I've come across a frustrating issue where I can't delete a certain folder on my external HDD. When I attempt to delete it, nothing happens, and when I hover over it, it indicates that it's an empty folder despite being filled with data. I've already tried using the command 'rmdir "name of dir" /q /s' in an elevated command prompt and made sure to change the permissions of the folder, but I still can't open it. Interestingly, I can still move and rename the folder without any problems. Should I run chkdsk or is there another approach? I gave chkdsk a shot, and it actually resolved the issue! I just used the 'Error checking' feature on Windows, which is a quick GUI version of chkdsk and the fix took only about 5 minutes.
3 Answers
Sounds like you might be dealing with a system glitch! A user mentioned the 'Beatles' bugs, which could just mean some files might be causing conflict. If a restart doesn’t work, it might be helpful to ensure no processes are actively using that folder. Sometimes antivirus or backup software can hold on to files longer than expected.
If you're on Windows, have you tried sending the folder to the Recycle Bin? Sometimes a stubborn folder needs a gentle nudge before it gets deleted. But if nothing happens when you click delete, it might just be acting weird due to it being on an external drive. You might need to try a different method or software to force the delete, as external drives can be finicky sometimes.
One thing to definitely try if you haven't already is rebooting your system. When Windows flags a file for deletion, it sometimes gets stuck waiting for other processes to release their handles. A good restart might clear that up and allow you to delete it without issues.
I actually tried rebooting before but ended up fixing the issue with the error checking instead. It was a simple file system error that needed correcting, which chkdsk took care of!
I see what you mean, but it's not even reacting when I try to delete it, so it can't get to the Recycle Bin. It's pretty much frozen in place. The drive seems fine otherwise, according to CrystalDiskInfo.