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2

I use Windows 7. The problem can be seen from the picture. I have tried to remove the folder "by mouse". But I failed to do so. How can I remove the folder without a name?

enter image description here

UPDATE: Thanks to Nifle's answer, I got the following results: enter image description here

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I'm really confused that why I got this kind of folder suddenly. – Jack Dec 20 '11 at 13:09
It probably has a name using Unicode characters that don't show up in the chinese codepage. You could probably have deleted it from Explorer - or, selecting a truetype font and hitting "tab" from the command line to autocomplete [like "rmdir <tab>"] – Random832 Dec 20 '11 at 14:32

2 Answers

up vote 18 down vote accepted

It probably has a name that you just can't see.

Try dir /x This displays the short names generated for non-8dot3 file names. The format is that of /N with the short name inserted before the long name. If no short name is present, blanks are displayed in its place.

More info type help dir or go here

Then when you have that name use the rmdir or rd command to delete the directory. (Or del if it's an invisible file)

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Hmm, I have tried it. And I saw the name 99A4~1. What should I do then? – Jack Dec 20 '11 at 13:13
@Jack Have you tried del 99A4~1? – Nifle Dec 20 '11 at 13:15
I tried del 99A4~1 and confirmed deleting. But the folder is still there. – Jack Dec 20 '11 at 13:15
@Jack - Sorry out of ideas at the moment. – Nifle Dec 20 '11 at 13:22
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@Nifle: The proper command to remove a folder in Windows is rmdir. del folder just deletes the files in the folder. @Jack: Try rmdir 99A4~1. – Dennis Dec 20 '11 at 13:28
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up vote 7 down vote

I suggest you boot from a Linux Live CD (e.g. Ubuntu Live CD) and try deleting the folder.

After booting, go to Applications > Places and click on Home Folder to open Nautilus (i.e. the File Explorer for Ubuntu). Then check if the folder is visible and try to delete it with the right click menu.

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Thanks for your answer. But I'm a user of Windows and I know nothing about Linux... What would you like to suggest me to do then? – Jack Dec 20 '11 at 13:06
3  
You can download a linux "live" image for free, and use it without damaging your Windows partitions. Burn it to a disc, boot to it, and then give it a try. – BryceAtNetwork23 Dec 20 '11 at 13:08
When he boots the live-cd, then what does he do? – Nifle Dec 20 '11 at 13:13
He goes to Applications > Places and clicks on Home Folder to open Nautilus (i.e. the File Explorer for Ubuntu). Then he checks if the folder is visible and tries to delete it with right click menu. – Mehper C. Palavuzlar Dec 20 '11 at 13:18
2  
Good. Now put that in the answer and I'll remove my downvote. – Nifle Dec 20 '11 at 13:20

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