Cannot Delete Any Files in Windows

• Microsoft Windows 98
• Microsoft Windows 95
• Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition

SYMPTOMS

When you try to delete a file in Windows, you may receive the following error message:

Cannot delete "filename", cannot find the specified path.

Make sure you typed the right path.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if the Recycle Bin has become corrupted, or if you have installed and then uninstalled Fix-It Utilities by Mijenix Corporation, causing the Recycle Bin to become corrupted.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue:

1. Windows 95: Restart your computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, press the F8 key, and then choose Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu.
   
   Windows 98: Restart your computer, press and hold down the CTRL key after your computer completes the Power On Self Test (POST), and then choose Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu.
   
   NOTE: You can start the computer with the Windows Startup disk if it is available.



2. At the command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after each line:




attrib -r -s -h c:\recycled
deltree c:\recycled

NOTE: If the problem occurs on a drive other than C, substitute the appropriate drive letter for drive C in the above commands.


3. Restart the computer. This re-creates the Recycle Bin.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about the Recycle Bin, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q136517 How the Recycle Bin Stores Files

Additional query words:

Keywords : kb3rdparty kberrmsg win95 win98 win98se
Version : WINDOWS:95
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb