How do I get rid of this Directory entry?

somehow a strange character entry got into the directory listing.

hex
b9 fb 5f eb 48 51 7e 31 20 53 de a6

dec
185 251 95 235 72 81 126 49 32 83 222 166

properties shows 0 bytes all around

I get System Error 1026 if I try to delete it.

If I try to go to it, I get a 'moved or deleted" error

I tried going into MSDOS and using the alt key to recreate the
characters but because of the space where there should be a . it won't
delete it.

So, how do I get rid of this entry?

Robert

Robert A. Macy wrote:
somehow a strange character entry got into the directory listing.

hex
b9 fb 5f eb 48 51 7e 31 20 53 de a6

dec
185 251 95 235 72 81 126 49 32 83 222 166

properties shows 0 bytes all around

I get System Error 1026 if I try to delete it.

If I try to go to it, I get a 'moved or deleted" error

I tried going into MSDOS and using the alt key to recreate the
characters but because of the space where there should be a . it won't
delete it.

So, how do I get rid of this entry?

Robert


Could be due to filesystem corruption

run scandisk

Robert A. Macy wrote:
somehow a strange character entry got into the directory listing.

hex
b9 fb 5f eb 48 51 7e 31 20 53 de a6

dec
185 251 95 235 72 81 126 49 32 83 222 166

properties shows 0 bytes all around

I get System Error 1026 if I try to delete it.

If I try to go to it, I get a 'moved or deleted" error

I tried going into MSDOS and using the alt key to recreate the
characters but because of the space where there should be a . it won't
delete it.

So, how do I get rid of this entry?

Robert


Could be due to filesystem corruption

run scandisk

"Robert A. Macy" wrote in message ...
somehow a strange character entry got into the directory listing.

hex
b9 fb 5f eb 48 51 7e 31 20 53 de a6

dec
185 251 95 235 72 81 126 49 32 83 222 166

properties shows 0 bytes all around

I get System Error 1026 if I try to delete it.

If I try to go to it, I get a 'moved or deleted" error

I'd try what philo suggested first.


I tried going into MSDOS and using the alt key to recreate the
characters but because of the space where there should be a . it won't
delete it.

How do you know the hex numbers of the characters? If you're looking at
it (the 8.3 name) through a disk editor, you'd only see 11 characters, and not
the 12 you show. The dot is not represented in the directory entry.
(The old Norton diskedit used to show a space between the filename
and extension, but that was in text mode. In "hex mode" you wouldn't
see an extension char.)


So, how do I get rid of this entry?

You can delete a file by changing the first char to 0xE5. I'm not sure
what you are looking at however, so I don't suggest it.

"Robert A. Macy" wrote in message ...
somehow a strange character entry got into the directory listing.

hex
b9 fb 5f eb 48 51 7e 31 20 53 de a6

dec
185 251 95 235 72 81 126 49 32 83 222 166

properties shows 0 bytes all around

I get System Error 1026 if I try to delete it.

If I try to go to it, I get a 'moved or deleted" error

I'd try what philo suggested first.


I tried going into MSDOS and using the alt key to recreate the
characters but because of the space where there should be a . it won't
delete it.

How do you know the hex numbers of the characters? If you're looking at
it (the 8.3 name) through a disk editor, you'd only see 11 characters, and not
the 12 you show. The dot is not represented in the directory entry.
(The old Norton diskedit used to show a space between the filename
and extension, but that was in text mode. In "hex mode" you wouldn't
see an extension char.)


So, how do I get rid of this entry?

You can delete a file by changing the first char to 0xE5. I'm not sure
what you are looking at however, so I don't suggest it.

On Feb 28, 11:34*am, "Bill Blanton"
wrote:
"Robert A. Macy" wrote in ...

somehow a strange character entry got into the directory listing.

hex
b9 fb 5f eb 48 51 7e 31 20 53 de a6

dec
185 251 95 235 72 81 126 49 32 83 222 166

properties shows 0 bytes all around

I get System Error 1026 if I try to delete it.

If I try to go to it, I get a 'moved or deleted" error

I'd try what philo suggested first.

I tried going into MSDOS and using the alt key to recreate the
characters but because of the space where there should be a . it won't
delete it.

How do you know the hex numbers of the characters? If you're looking at
it (the 8.3 name) through a disk editor, you'd only see 11 characters, and not
the 12 you show. The dot is not represented in the directory entry.
(The old Norton diskedit used to show a space between the filename
and extension, but that was in text mode. In "hex mode" you wouldn't
see an extension char.)

So, how do I get rid of this entry?

You can delete a file by changing the first char to 0xE5. I'm not sure
what you are looking at however, so I don't suggest it.

BACKGROUND:
I use a memory stick as a Rolodex filled with *.txt files of data.

To use this 'rolodex' each PC system has a shortcut on the DeskTop to
a batch file that turns verify on and then xcopy's any new file or
more recent copy onto the memory stick, or from the memory stick. This
technique keeps everything synchronized.

I use batch files for control and to obtain the log list of files
being updated *and* allow me to turn verify on. I do not believe that
Windows Explorer has that feature and I've had the Windows copy
function not exactly copy enough files from time to time to be
extremely wary of counting on it.

It seems that the memory stick always gets corrupted after being used
on the XP [even though all applications are shut off and the USB port
is conscientiously shut off to safely remove the stick]. Now is the
third time.

Now today, since unknown to me the stick was corrupted, as the batch
file updated the C drive the xcopy transferred a lhuge set of strange
stuff onto the Win98 machine. All was easily removed, but this single
entry.

ORIGIN OF DIRECTORY NAME:
To find the exact name of the directory, I first tried using MSDOS
prompt, typing dir *. which did not find it. I then tried dir and it
appeared at the end of the list. I then redirected such an output by
typing
dir directry.txt
into a text file to find out what the characters were. I used notepad
to shave everything but the offending listing off [this may have been
a mistake, if Notepad on Win98 changes characters, Notepad on WinXP
changes characters.] I then used HexEditor to read the exact
characters in the name of this offending directory. Thought the
detail would help.

Also in MSDOS prompt I attempted to remove/delete the entry by using
rmdir in all kinds of modes and del in all kinds of modes. Nothing
worked. Always produced error messages.

So back to my original problem. How do I get this item deleted?

Robert

On Feb 28, 11:34*am, "Bill Blanton"
wrote:
"Robert A. Macy" wrote in ...

somehow a strange character entry got into the directory listing.

hex
b9 fb 5f eb 48 51 7e 31 20 53 de a6

dec
185 251 95 235 72 81 126 49 32 83 222 166

properties shows 0 bytes all around

I get System Error 1026 if I try to delete it.

If I try to go to it, I get a 'moved or deleted" error

I'd try what philo suggested first.

I tried going into MSDOS and using the alt key to recreate the
characters but because of the space where there should be a . it won't
delete it.

How do you know the hex numbers of the characters? If you're looking at
it (the 8.3 name) through a disk editor, you'd only see 11 characters, and not
the 12 you show. The dot is not represented in the directory entry.
(The old Norton diskedit used to show a space between the filename
and extension, but that was in text mode. In "hex mode" you wouldn't
see an extension char.)

So, how do I get rid of this entry?

You can delete a file by changing the first char to 0xE5. I'm not sure
what you are looking at however, so I don't suggest it.

BACKGROUND:
I use a memory stick as a Rolodex filled with *.txt files of data.

To use this 'rolodex' each PC system has a shortcut on the DeskTop to
a batch file that turns verify on and then xcopy's any new file or
more recent copy onto the memory stick, or from the memory stick. This
technique keeps everything synchronized.

I use batch files for control and to obtain the log list of files
being updated *and* allow me to turn verify on. I do not believe that
Windows Explorer has that feature and I've had the Windows copy
function not exactly copy enough files from time to time to be
extremely wary of counting on it.

It seems that the memory stick always gets corrupted after being used
on the XP [even though all applications are shut off and the USB port
is conscientiously shut off to safely remove the stick]. Now is the
third time.

Now today, since unknown to me the stick was corrupted, as the batch
file updated the C drive the xcopy transferred a lhuge set of strange
stuff onto the Win98 machine. All was easily removed, but this single
entry.

ORIGIN OF DIRECTORY NAME:
To find the exact name of the directory, I first tried using MSDOS
prompt, typing dir *. which did not find it. I then tried dir and it
appeared at the end of the list. I then redirected such an output by
typing
dir directry.txt
into a text file to find out what the characters were. I used notepad
to shave everything but the offending listing off [this may have been
a mistake, if Notepad on Win98 changes characters, Notepad on WinXP
changes characters.] I then used HexEditor to read the exact
characters in the name of this offending directory. Thought the
detail would help.

Also in MSDOS prompt I attempted to remove/delete the entry by using
rmdir in all kinds of modes and del in all kinds of modes. Nothing
worked. Always produced error messages.

So back to my original problem. How do I get this item deleted?

Robert

"Robert Macy" wrote in message ...
On Feb 28, 11:34 am, "Bill Blanton"
wrote:

"Robert A. Macy" wrote in ...

somehow a strange character entry got into the directory listing.

hex
b9 fb 5f eb 48 51 7e 31 20 53 de a6

dec
185 251 95 235 72 81 126 49 32 83 222 166

properties shows 0 bytes all around

I get System Error 1026 if I try to delete it.

If I try to go to it, I get a 'moved or deleted" error

I'd try what philo suggested first.

I tried going into MSDOS and using the alt key to recreate the
characters but because of the space where there should be a . it won't
delete it.

How do you know the hex numbers of the characters? If you're looking at
it (the 8.3 name) through a disk editor, you'd only see 11 characters, and not
the 12 you show. The dot is not represented in the directory entry.
(The old Norton diskedit used to show a space between the filename
and extension, but that was in text mode. In "hex mode" you wouldn't
see an extension char.)

So, how do I get rid of this entry?

You can delete a file by changing the first char to 0xE5. I'm not sure
what you are looking at however, so I don't suggest it.

BACKGROUND:
I use a memory stick as a Rolodex filled with *.txt files of data.

To use this 'rolodex' each PC system has a shortcut on the DeskTop to
a batch file that turns verify on and then xcopy's any new file or
more recent copy onto the memory stick, or from the memory stick. This
technique keeps everything synchronized.

I use batch files for control and to obtain the log list of files
being updated *and* allow me to turn verify on. I do not believe that
Windows Explorer has that feature and I've had the Windows copy
function not exactly copy enough files from time to time to be
extremely wary of counting on it.

It seems that the memory stick always gets corrupted after being used
on the XP [even though all applications are shut off and the USB port
is conscientiously shut off to safely remove the stick]. Now is the
third time.

Now today, since unknown to me the stick was corrupted, as the batch
file updated the C drive the xcopy transferred a lhuge set of strange
stuff onto the Win98 machine. All was easily removed, but this single
entry.

ORIGIN OF DIRECTORY NAME:
To find the exact name of the directory, I first tried using MSDOS
prompt, typing dir *. which did not find it. I then tried dir and it
appeared at the end of the list. I then redirected such an output by
typing
dir directry.txt
into a text file to find out what the characters were. I used notepad
to shave everything but the offending listing off [this may have been
a mistake, if Notepad on Win98 changes characters, Notepad on WinXP
changes characters.] I then used HexEditor to read the exact
characters in the name of this offending directory. Thought the
detail would help.


Besides the assumed space, one of the chars is an illegal tilde.



Also in MSDOS prompt I attempted to remove/delete the entry by using
rmdir in all kinds of modes and del in all kinds of modes. Nothing
worked. Always produced error messages.

You might try an alt-255 (null char) in place of the space. Using
that char was an old DOS trick to keep people from messing around with
your files. Also try wrapping the name in " "




So back to my original problem. How do I get this item deleted?

Try Scandisk as philo suggested. (there's a chance that will work)
If that doesn't work, it is possible to delete it with a disk editor
as I suggested.

"Robert Macy" wrote in message ...
On Feb 28, 11:34 am, "Bill Blanton"
wrote:

"Robert A. Macy" wrote in ...

somehow a strange character entry got into the directory listing.

hex
b9 fb 5f eb 48 51 7e 31 20 53 de a6

dec
185 251 95 235 72 81 126 49 32 83 222 166

properties shows 0 bytes all around

I get System Error 1026 if I try to delete it.

If I try to go to it, I get a 'moved or deleted" error

I'd try what philo suggested first.

I tried going into MSDOS and using the alt key to recreate the
characters but because of the space where there should be a . it won't
delete it.

How do you know the hex numbers of the characters? If you're looking at
it (the 8.3 name) through a disk editor, you'd only see 11 characters, and not
the 12 you show. The dot is not represented in the directory entry.
(The old Norton diskedit used to show a space between the filename
and extension, but that was in text mode. In "hex mode" you wouldn't
see an extension char.)

So, how do I get rid of this entry?

You can delete a file by changing the first char to 0xE5. I'm not sure
what you are looking at however, so I don't suggest it.

BACKGROUND:
I use a memory stick as a Rolodex filled with *.txt files of data.

To use this 'rolodex' each PC system has a shortcut on the DeskTop to
a batch file that turns verify on and then xcopy's any new file or
more recent copy onto the memory stick, or from the memory stick. This
technique keeps everything synchronized.

I use batch files for control and to obtain the log list of files
being updated *and* allow me to turn verify on. I do not believe that
Windows Explorer has that feature and I've had the Windows copy
function not exactly copy enough files from time to time to be
extremely wary of counting on it.

It seems that the memory stick always gets corrupted after being used
on the XP [even though all applications are shut off and the USB port
is conscientiously shut off to safely remove the stick]. Now is the
third time.

Now today, since unknown to me the stick was corrupted, as the batch
file updated the C drive the xcopy transferred a lhuge set of strange
stuff onto the Win98 machine. All was easily removed, but this single
entry.

ORIGIN OF DIRECTORY NAME:
To find the exact name of the directory, I first tried using MSDOS
prompt, typing dir *. which did not find it. I then tried dir and it
appeared at the end of the list. I then redirected such an output by
typing
dir directry.txt
into a text file to find out what the characters were. I used notepad
to shave everything but the offending listing off [this may have been
a mistake, if Notepad on Win98 changes characters, Notepad on WinXP
changes characters.] I then used HexEditor to read the exact
characters in the name of this offending directory. Thought the
detail would help.


Besides the assumed space, one of the chars is an illegal tilde.



Also in MSDOS prompt I attempted to remove/delete the entry by using
rmdir in all kinds of modes and del in all kinds of modes. Nothing
worked. Always produced error messages.

You might try an alt-255 (null char) in place of the space. Using
that char was an old DOS trick to keep people from messing around with
your files. Also try wrapping the name in " "




So back to my original problem. How do I get this item deleted?

Try Scandisk as philo suggested. (there's a chance that will work)
If that doesn't work, it is possible to delete it with a disk editor
as I suggested.

"Robert Macy" wrote in message ...
On Feb 28, 11:34 am, "Bill Blanton"
wrote:
"Robert A. Macy" wrote in ...

somehow a strange character entry got into the directory listing.

hex
b9 fb 5f eb 48 51 7e 31 20 53 de a6

dec
185 251 95 235 72 81 126 49 32 83 222 166



Also in MSDOS prompt I attempted to remove/delete the entry by using
rmdir in all kinds of modes and del in all kinds of modes. Nothing
worked. Always produced error messages.

So back to my original problem. How do I get this item deleted?

Have you tried this?
deltree alt-185*.*

Assuming that's the only dir starting with a ? alt-185