Unable to delete file ( target of symbolic link doesn't exist )
I have a file named ENG~1.IN that cannot be deleted.
File is located on an 8GB SanDisk USB drive with a FAT32 file system.
Windows states that the file has 1,975 bytes attached to it.
Windows explorer states:
This is no longer located in J:. Verify the item's location and try again.
CMD states:
Could not find: J:\ENG~1.IN
Attrib * states:
The target of the symbolic link J:\ENG~1.IN does not exist
I have performed chkdsk /f, /r (and /p from a recovery disk)
I have attempted to delete this file from Windows XP, Vista, 7, Mac OS X and Ubuntu (not sure what version).
I have tried a trial version of DelinvFile which only states that the file doesn't exist (Waiting to hear back from developer).
I have created another file with the same name and windows will list both files side by side with the same name, however when opening or deleting the old file only the new file is affected. I even ran a chkdsk with both files on the drive hoping that it would see the error and link the two, but it did not.
I believe that this file (and three others with the same problem) were created by an embedded machine running UC Linux.
Answer
Since I could not move the file; I moved everything else to a temp directory, used the "rd /s folderX", and finally renamed the temp folder to the original name.
Hope this helps :)