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Cannot remove folder <folder name>

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14 replies

by hbock

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I am trying to delete a directory on an NT 4.0 sp6a server. I receive the following error:
Cannot remove folder : There has been a sharing violation. The source or destination file may be in use.

The directory is not being shared and is empty.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Howard Bock
Bock and Bock
Dallas, Texas

14 replies

by bbc1

Ive found that sometimes you may need either to log off and log back on or reboot the server to delete this type of folder.

by hbock

Steps to resolve this problem:

1.Downloaded a program called handler.exe from sysinternals.
2.Ran it and found that nddeagnt.exe has the folder c:\users open.
3.Retrieved pviewer.exe from the NT 4.0 Resource Kit and and used it to kill the process nddeagnt.exe.
4.I then deleted the folder c:\users.
5.I then clicked Start, Run, nddeangt.
6.I then rebooted the server just to make certain there were no problems.
7.The server came up without a problem.
8.I then ran hander.exe and found nddeagnt.exe now had c:\ opened instead of c:\users as before.

I would like to thank you for your suggestion.

by ctmoore1998

First make sure that your folder view is set so that you can see hidden files, folders, and system files. If your explorer view currently has these options and the folder is still empty. Then go into control panel and verify that the folder isn't inuse by anyone (use server applet in control panel) Finally right mouse on the folder and ensure that you have the rights to the folder (logged on as administrator I'm sure) if folder was created by a user maybe admin doesn't have sufficient privleges (take ownership and set to full privleges) also when checking security make sure there are no 'unknown' users with permissions to folder delete them if there are any. You should now be able to delete the folder.

by hbock

Steps to resolve this problem:

1.Downloaded a program called handler.exe from sysinternals.
2.Ran it and found that nddeagnt.exe has the folder c:\users open.
3.Retrieved pviewer.exe from the NT 4.0 Resource Kit and and used it to kill the process nddeagnt.exe.
4.I then deleted the folder c:\users.
5.I then clicked Start, Run, nddeangt.
6.I then rebooted the server just to make certain there were no problems.
7.The server came up without a problem.
8.I then ran hander.exe and found nddeagnt.exe now had c:\ opened instead of c:\users as before.

I would like to thank you for your suggestion.

by chitosunday

reboot your system and don't log on. If you are using windows, go in a safe mode. If it doesn't work, try removing it in dos mode. Check the attributes, Remove the read only attributes or hidden or system attributes and try to delete it again.

by hbock

Steps to resolve this problem:

1.Downloaded a program called handler.exe from sysinternals.
2.Ran it and found that nddeagnt.exe has the folder c:\users open.
3.Retrieved pviewer.exe from the NT 4.0 Resource Kit and and used it to kill the process nddeagnt.exe.
4.I then deleted the folder c:\users.
5.I then clicked Start, Run, nddeangt.
6.I then rebooted the server just to make certain there were no problems.
7.The server came up without a problem.
8.I then ran hander.exe and found nddeagnt.exe now had c:\ opened instead of c:\users as before.

I would like to thank you for your suggestion.

by hbock

Thanks for all the responses, however, so far no luck. Any other ideas will be greatly appreciated.

Howard

by tim.doyle

- Make sure you're logged in as Administrator (or equivalent), run Server Manager and look under open resources for the server box and see if anyone is listed as using that resource. Forcibly close the resource if they are and then delete it.
- Check the properties for the folder and see if its a read only or has any other attributes that may keep you from deleteing it.
- Check the properties for the folder and disable any sharing for it.

Is the folder you want to delete on the computer you're sitting at or is it a share on another computer? If its a share on another computer you might have to go to that specific computer to delete it since you mgiht be the one who has it open when you're trying to delete it. If its not the root level of the share you're mapping a drive to on your computer open Windows Explorer and navigate to the parent folder of the one you want to delete so the one you want to delete is shown in the right hand pane of Explorer and not in the left hand pane. Right click on it in the right pane and choose delete...NT sometimes considers the folder opena nd in use if you click on it in the left hand pane.

by hbock

Steps to resolve this problem:

1.Downloaded a program called handler.exe from sysinternals.
2.Ran it and found that nddeagnt.exe has the folder c:\users open.
3.Retrieved pviewer.exe from the NT 4.0 Resource Kit and and used it to kill the process nddeagnt.exe.
4.I then deleted the folder c:\users.
5.I then clicked Start, Run, nddeangt.
6.I then rebooted the server just to make certain there were no problems.
7.The server came up without a problem.
8.I then ran hander.exe and found nddeagnt.exe now had c:\ opened instead of c:\users as before.

I would like to thank you for your suggestion.

by markn

Howard,
I once had the same problem. I found that encompassing this folder into a share...I.E d$
then I deleted the folder remotely.

Hope this works
Mark

by hbock

Steps to resolve this problem:

1.Downloaded a program called handler.exe from sysinternals.
2.Ran it and found that nddeagnt.exe has the folder c:\users open.
3.Retrieved pviewer.exe from the NT 4.0 Resource Kit and and used it to kill the process nddeagnt.exe.
4.I then deleted the folder c:\users.
5.I then clicked Start, Run, nddeangt.
6.I then rebooted the server just to make certain there were no problems.
7.The server came up without a problem.
8.I then ran hander.exe and found nddeagnt.exe now had c:\ opened instead of c:\users as before.

I would like to thank you for your suggestion.

by hbock

I have determiend that NDDEAGNT.EXE has this folder open for some reason. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to stop this so I can delete the folder.

by emanueljars

Hey thanks for your advise.But this problem can be solved with another tool [url=http://longpathtool.com/]LONG PATH Tool[/url].

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