When I try and delete files I get "Cannot delete: file or directory is corrupt and unreadable"?

Question

I'm trying to delete some files from my computer but every time I try it just comes up with "Cannot delete: file or directory is corrupt and unreadable"

Answer 1

If you're running XP the easy answer is to run check disk to repair any file errors.

the way to do this is to open my computer

right click on the C: drive

click properties

click the tools tab

click the check now button

put a tick in both boxes and click start

you'll get a warning about it can't do it do you want to schedule a disk check click yes now reboot the disk check will take place before windows loads fully

this will correct any file errors and scan for bad sectors it'll take about 45 min to complete

Answer 2

One thing nobody seems to have thought if is that the file is indeed corrupt. Try running chkdsk: 1. Click on Start->Run and enter cmd in the text box, then click OK. 2. In the black box that comes up, type chkdsk /f 3. Press Enter. 4. It will probably tell you that it can't run because the volume is in use. This is normal Tell it to schedule a run on the next restart. (Y) 5. Close the black box and restart your machine. If the file is indeed corrupt, this should fix it, but it won't tell you a thing about it, either way. Hopefully, you'll be able to delete the file when Windows comes back up. Good luck.

Answer 3

This is caused when a program that is accessing the file gets killed abruptly.



To resolve this issue, follow these steps:



Ensure that no program is accessing any resource in the particular drive in which your file resides in.



Then, type this in your command line:

chkdsk Z: /R /X



(where Z: is the drive letter of which the file resides in)



=)