Windows 10: Folder name _PWF6A~D cannot be deleted

This is a folder on a backup device I have. It seems to have been created 10/31/2015. It has a subfolder named folders.501 which has a folder temporaryItems, which appears empty both in Explorer and CMD. Yet it doesn't seem to be empty. I cannot delete these folders. I've looked and found a discussion about this name appearing due to the MacOS but that has never run on my computer.

So: 1) why is it on my drive; 2) why does Windows report it is not empty but Explorer shows it is empty; 3) how do I get rid of it

THANKS!

:)

 

How did you install Windows on your Mac? if that folder is from the Mac OS partition, then there is a issue.

 

This is on a Windows 10 machine. No Mac involved at all.

 

Then why did you mention Mac OS. It is irrelevant. You can try using a Linux Live DVD like Linux Mint to remove those temp files that are locked most likely under Trusted Installer. Does Cleanup under Administrative tools or CCLeaner even see that folder to allow you to remove it?

 

I haven't tried CClearner etc. I will

I only mentioned Mac because the references I found on line were to a Mac. Confusing to me, as to my knowledge no Mac OS has been installed.

 

If you do not use that OS or have a Macbook that you uninstalled Mac OS, do not interject it into the subject. Concentrate on the problem at hand.

 

@bro67 If you find trivial addenda particularly concerning, don’t express it as part of the discussion. Concentrate on the problem at hand.

Efforts at gathering and providing information about a problem prior to voicing it is a conduct we need to see much more of in the forums. But if you think something someone said is irrelevant, you should ignore it rather than encourage silence because the additional guidance may be beneficial for others with a different perspective to the problem.


RonNewYork, what error message are you getting when you attempt to delete the folder? Additionally, what file system does this item reside? If it’s a file system that doesn’t support permissions then it’s likely a process has a handle on it.

 

User 501 is the default user on OSX, it seems the folders could be created if streaming to or from a Mac? That could I guess include ipods, iphones and ipads.

 

When I try to delete it in cmd.exe there is no error but nothing happens. In explorer I get directory name is invalid. If I try to use RD on it or the folder below, folders.501, I get "folder is not empty" error.

This is a backup device. Most of the time it is off-line; no cable connection. I plug it in, do backups and unplug it. This folder has a date of 10/31/2015. That date means nothing special to me.

I am very certain there never was a Mac OS on it.

 

Again if it is not a Mac computer, you cannot run Mac OS on it. It has to be removed while in Safe Mode, since it is locked by a process that can be used by iCloud, iTunes, Sync for iOS devices.

Two ways to do it. Run CCleaner and see if it will take it out or try Cleanup under Administrative tools. If that does not work, you can try booting up with a Linux Mint Live DVD. Do not worry about what you saw online when you searched for it. Try what I have suggested and it should remove those items. 10/31/15 is a default date. You will see on Windows that there is a default date that is from when the OS went RTM.

 

I made some inquiries and found that someone who was staying at my place in Dec 2015 did try to load a Mac OS on my machine (Windows 7 at that time). So, one part of the mystery is solved. Now to get rid of that folder still remains. (Not the worst thing if it is just there benignly), But I would like to know how I can alter that folder so it can be removed.

 

If the folder was being locked by anything the error message would be more generic, e.g., “Access denied”.

I doubt this is the case as macOS cannot write to it, but if the device is NTFS formatted the following RD command tends to have a high success rate in deleting stubborn folders like this.
Code: rd /s /q "\\?\C:\path\to\folder"[/quote] Note the syntax carefully. The full path must be used, and tab completion helps.

 

That worked!! I just used a drive letter, G:\\_ etc. BUT why does this RD work with /q /s and not RD itself? THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Hi RonNewYork,
Glad you got this solved. Please mark the thread as solved so that others can benefit from this. FYI, only the thread started can do this.
Bob