Windows - unable to remove file with long name having special characters

Question

Through some wget scripts, I managed to create some files with very long names and special characters. Now, I am unable to rename/delete them. In-fact windows is behaving wierdly with them (nothing new I agree):

1) My Norton Antivirus Scan automatically stops and closes on encountering these files .. very dangerous :(.

2) The files are shown in the directory view as any other file. But, right clicking on them does not bring up the usual menu (which has open/delete, rename, properties among other options). The menu that comes only has "Open" and "Send to" in them.

The filesystem is NTFS (externally mounted Hard drive).

I have lived with this for months but now I am uncomfortable with those files lying around and hope someone will be able to suggest a fix.

NOTES:

1) I have tried using quotes " on the command prompt. But still can't execute the rename or del command. The error I get is "The filename or extension is too long".

2) Sample dir /x output (The columns like the one with MA27C5~1.KEY entry are making me further nervous. What does that mean? Not all files have that kind of entry.):

01-Apr-10  15:30            10,177              main.php?g2_view=search.SearchScan&g2_form[useDefaultSettings]=1&g2_return=%2Fgall
ery2%2Fmain.php?g2_view=keyalbum.KeywordAlbum&g2_keyword=The+Education+of+Charlie+Banks&g2_returnName=keyword+album
01-Apr-10  15:20            10,177              main.php?g2_view=search.SearchScan&g2_form[useDefaultSettings]=1&g2_return=%2Fgall
ery2%2Fmain.php?g2_view=keyalbum.KeywordAlbum&g2_keyword=The+Haunting+in+Connecticut&g2_returnName=keyword+album
01-Apr-10  14:58            10,177              main.php?g2_view=search.SearchScan&g2_form[useDefaultSettings]=1&g2_return=%2Fgall
ery2%2Fmain.php?g2_view=keyalbum.KeywordAlbum&g2_keyword=X-Men+Origins%3A+Wolverine&g2_returnName=keyword+album
26-Mar-10  15:29            10,177 MA27C5~1.KEY main.php@g2_view=search.SearchScan&g2_form@5BuseDefaultSettings@5D=1&g2_return=@2F
gallery2@2Fmain.php@3Fg2_view@3Dkeyalbum.KeywordAlbum@26g2_keyword@3Dyour@2Bperfect@2Bfit&g2_returnName=keyword+album

Answer 1

Try Unlocker you can remove any file. it will take care of:

• Close handle

• Kill process

• Unload DLL

• Delete index.dat

• Delete/Rename/Move

• Invalid Names

and its FREE!

Answer 2

You may be able to do into safe mode and delete it using its ~ name.

1. Boot in safe mode
2. dir /x (this should display the ~ name)
3. del file using the ~ name

Answer 3

Try clicking on the file and pressing F2, then rename it... if it works, you should be able to delete it...

Answer 4

Empty the directory of all files except the bad ones, backup the HDD but exclude the directory containing those files, reformat and restore.

Answer 5

You may be able to delete them using an ubuntu live cd, but make sure you run a chkdsk in windows first otherwise it will complain that the ntfs partition is messed up.