Folder with question mark '?' will not rename

rynd2it · 2013-06-22 13:49

I have a Windows folder on an external drive, the filename contains a '?' and because of that I cannot remove it.

I have tried renaming it with 'Renamer' but it fails to rename. Loaded folders as files, removed all the folder and subfolders I didn't want and left just the root directory folder and the offending folder name. It also tellms me these two are in the wrong order but it doesn't matter if I change the order.

I have two screen shots showing the before & after

Before

Thanks

David

Last edited by rynd2it (2013-06-22 14:12)

Stefan · 2013-06-22 16:10

Hi David, welcome to the community!

The windows file system doesn't accept question marks as part of a file name.
So I guess that what you see is a Unicode character that looks like our "?" ?

Please try Strip rule with this settings:

[X] English
[X] Strip all characters except selected

which should strip all but standard ASCII English chars and so remove any Unicode sign, I presume.

Here is the help for that rule: http://www.den4b.com/wiki/ReNamer:Rules:Strip

Last edited by Stefan (2013-06-22 16:11)

rynd2it · 2013-06-22 16:20

I think it is a Unicode character as well - the file was copied from an EXT3 file system.

However I did as you suggested but the result was the same - it failed to strip and change the filename.

I still get the sort message as well despite deleting all the files except the two in my first screen shot.

Help!!!

Stefan · 2013-06-22 16:53

Hmm, I don't know.
You can try deleting from a command prompt by escaping that question mark sign.
(Maybe you have to kill the explorer process before too?)

- close all programs

- launch cmd.exe
- start taskmgr.exe
- kill explorer.exe

- in cmd window:
C:\>G:
G:\>CD \
G:\>CD G:\Unedited
G:\>RD "went the day well^?"

- in task manager > New Task > explorer.exe

Or boot with an linux live system (test cd)

Or try "G:\>dir /x" to get the short file names, and try to use that with the RD command.

Last edited by Stefan (2013-06-22 17:11)

SafetyCar · 2013-06-23 08:51

It's very strange to have a file with that character in it.

And if it's giving you so much problems I guess everything you can do is try to move the content to another folder and find a way to delete it when it's empty...

To delete files that don't want to be deleted I know about a program called Unlocker but I don't know if I should recommend it... well is not that it's a bad program at all (it is my favorite for this tasks) but... you should take very special care to DISABLE the installation of the very annoying Delta Toolbar Adware that comes with the installer... if you are interested: http://www.emptyloop.com/unlocker/#download2

rynd2it · 2013-06-23 09:07

Well,

DIR /X showed that it doesn't have a short name (with a ~ in it) - in fact quite a few of these files don't.

RD with the escape didin't work either (same error message)

The folder has no content so I can't move it

The reason the character is there is the filename was created on an EXT3 file system and copied over to an NTFS partition on the same disk.

I'll try a bootable linux but I suspect it won't see the NTFS files

den4b · 2013-06-24 10:25

People who had the same problem seem to resort to using a Live CD of Linux to rename the file:
http://superuser.com/questions/31587/ho … -character

Try Ubuntu: http://help.ubuntu.com/community/LiveCD

rynd2it · 2013-06-24 10:41

OK, thanks all - ubuntu fixed it

David

den4b Forum

#1 2013-06-22 13:49

Folder with question mark '?' will not rename

#2 2013-06-22 16:10

Re: Folder with question mark '?' will not rename

#3 2013-06-22 16:20

Re: Folder with question mark '?' will not rename

#4 2013-06-22 16:53

Re: Folder with question mark '?' will not rename

#5 2013-06-23 08:51

Re: Folder with question mark '?' will not rename

#6 2013-06-23 09:07

Re: Folder with question mark '?' will not rename

#7 2013-06-24 10:25

Re: Folder with question mark '?' will not rename

#8 2013-06-24 10:41

Re: Folder with question mark '?' will not rename

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