Windows 10: Intermittend inaccessible directory

Occasionally I run into this problem where I want to delete a large tree of directories and files, upwards of 50,000 files and thousands of directories, and then just one of them can't be deleted. It's a total mystery to me why.


I've checked:

• The directory is not in use by anyone or anything*
• The directory cannot be browsed into, neither by me or by the administrator
• The directory cannot be deleted, neither by me or by the administrator
• The directory's flags like readonly/hidden/etc can be viewed, but not changed, neither by me or by the administrator
• The directory's security settings cannot be viewed or edited, neither by me or by the administrator
• Its parent directory cannot be renamed or moved or deleted
• I've ran `checkdsk /v` on the drive which revealed no errors

* Checked with Process Explorer, latest version. I know how to use this program.

And when I say "by the administrator", I mean "with elevated privileges", which means to select Yes on the UAC prompt.


After a great long while, meaning several minutes, the directory becomes unlocked and magically disappears.

Also good to know: my virus scanner is Traps, and I cannot delete/suspend it as per sysadmin settings.


I'm on Windows 10 version 1809, but this problem has been popping up every now and then since at least Windows XP. Whatever the case, deleting a large number of files and/or folders seems to trigger this problem. Only seems to happen on NTFS volumes, although I haven't had similar scenarios on FAT volumes before. The original security settings on the parent directory and all its subdirectories, is "full control" for me and the administrator and the system account.


Please advice, what should I do to prevent this problem from happening, or what can I do to remedy this problem when it does happen? Rebooting is out of the question, as that takes longer (also involves interrupting and resuming my work) than just waiting until the magic unlock.


Disclaimer: I'm a power user. I know what I'm doing. Don't hold back on complicated answers

:)

 

Directory Size Utility

First of all nice utility, Mindweaver!
Second of all, it's so nice to see that this section ain't dead.

I have a few questions/suggestions, maybe you'd want to see ...

• maybe you rename Get Folder button caption to something more intuitive? Add Folder, Get Folder Size, Check Folder Size or something like that?
  
• Could you add subfolder files to the right pane? (it can be a tickbox with include sub dirs)
  
• maybe you also add export list to excel?
  
• there's delete file button maybe you add delete folder button too?
  
• and finally maybe you can add UP button for directories?

 

Directory Size Utility

New! Directory Size Utility BETA v1.1

New features!

• New button icons!
• New Total selected directory size!
• Made the Exit button text bigger!

Download here

 

Directory Size Utility

Is that the one for download in the original post? You should list the version up for download. *Toast :toast: