How can I delete corrupted folders that appear empty?
Asked by
MellowPine47
I have one or more folders in Windows that look empty, but they refuse to be deleted. I've tried right-clicking Delete, Shift+Delete, moving them to the Recycle Bin, compressing them with 7-Zip, starting Windows in Safe Mode, and running Command Prompt as administrator. I'm out of ideas—what else can I try?
Answers
Try a file-unlocking utility such as Unlocker. These tools can identify handles or processes that are keeping a corrupted folder locked and then let you delete, rename, or move it. Download it only from a reputable, trusted source, since old utilities are sometimes bundled with unwanted software.
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AmberQuill62: Unlocker has been useful for stubborn files and folders for years, especially when Windows reports that nothing is inside but still refuses to remove the folder.