windows 11, unable to delte folder (3 Viewers)

[smiler44]

I am a novice

I created a folder in windows 11, the path shows as c/users/sagent/documents/music but when I click the documents folder it is not there.
Opening the documents file explorer I can see the folder below a folder marked Microsoft office.

There does not seem to be any option, right click or otherwise to delete this empty unwanted folder. I used it to download one thing from youtube so it is not needed for any programs.

please can you tell me how to delete this folder?

thank you
smiler44

 

[The_Doc_Man]

The usual reasons for not being able to delete a particular file or folder stem from a few basic issues.

1. File permissions. In Explorer right-click on the folder, then Properties >> Security and see what permissions are on the folder. You need MODIFY permissions on the folder AND at least MODIFY (but more likely FULL CONTROL) on the /documents folder that is "above" it. You might have to click the EDIT button to change the permissions. Be sure that you select your own ID in the list of usernames that have permission before you use the EDIT key.

2. If the folder is in a transient state or is in use by a hidden program, the easiest way to release any transient locks is a quick restart/reboot. (NOT the same as putting it to sleep and waking it up.)

NOTE: Since you used it for a download from YouTube, that implies that the folder was opened by your browser. If you have not restarted your system since the download, the browser may still have the file open. (Browsers are pesky like that.) ALSO, if you allowed the browser to create the folder, there is no guarantee what permissions were used during its creation, see #1 above.

3. In Windows 11, open the \users\sagent\documents folder you named. (Not the \music folder!) Look in the icon toolbar that also includes SORT and VIEW. To the right of that is an ellipsis ( ... ) that you can click. You will see a drop-down that includes Properties and Options. In the Options box (three tabs) select View options. You will see Advanced and a scrollable list of options you can select. The Files and Folders >> Hidden Files and Folders segment includes "Show hidden files and folders" which you can select. That should make all hidden items visible.

4. Since this was used in a download, if you have an anti-virus checker that can do a fast scan, do so. See if anything comes up. If not, it is a case of "no harm, no foul."

 

[Isaac]

I am a novice

I created a folder in windows 11, the path shows as c/users/sagent/documents/music but when I click the documents folder it is not there.
Opening the documents file explorer I can see the folder below a folder marked Microsoft office.

There does not seem to be any option, right click or otherwise to delete this empty unwanted folder. I used it to download one thing from youtube so it is not needed for any programs.

please can you tell me how to delete this folder?

thank you
smiler44

What's in the folder? Including hidden files?
What did you "download from Youtube", this sounds sus, are you sure it wasn't malware.

Are you a victim of Windows 10 and 11's needlessly shortened right-click Menu? Try the 'more options' at the bottom?
Then use ExplorerPatcher to restore normal right click menu's

 

[smiler44]

The usual reasons for not being able to delete a particular file or folder stem from a few basic issues.

1. File permissions. In Explorer right-click on the folder, then Properties >> Security and see what permissions are on the folder. You need MODIFY permissions on the folder AND at least MODIFY (but more likely FULL CONTROL) on the /documents folder that is "above" it. You might have to click the EDIT button to change the permissions. Be sure that you select your own ID in the list of usernames that have permission before you use the EDIT key.

2. If the folder is in a transient state or is in use by a hidden program, the easiest way to release any transient locks is a quick restart/reboot. (NOT the same as putting it to sleep and waking it up.)

NOTE: Since you used it for a download from YouTube, that implies that the folder was opened by your browser. If you have not restarted your system since the download, the browser may still have the file open. (Browsers are pesky like that.) ALSO, if you allowed the browser to create the folder, there is no guarantee what permissions were used during its creation, see #1 above.

3. In Windows 11, open the \users\sagent\documents folder you named. (Not the \music folder!) Look in the icon toolbar that also includes SORT and VIEW. To the right of that is an ellipsis ( ... ) that you can click. You will see a drop-down that includes Properties and Options. In the Options box (three tabs) select View options. You will see Advanced and a scrollable list of options you can select. The Files and Folders >> Hidden Files and Folders segment includes "Show hidden files and folders" which you can select. That should make all hidden items visible.

4. Since this was used in a download, if you have an anti-virus checker that can do a fast scan, do so. See if anything comes up. If not, it is a case of "no harm, no foul."

Hi The_Doc_Man,
thank you for your post.

In order
1. I right clicked the file, choose security and got the message The requested security information is either unavailable or cant be displayed.

I tried it on the documents folder above, there are 3 things listed, system, Administrators and a gmail address.
All have the same settings which is allow for all things except special permissions which I cannot change

2. Tried a reboot, that did not work. I am sure I created the folder

3. Once I have followed these instructions, what do I then do?

4. I don't on day "1" want to start cloging the lap top up. Have you any other ideas I could try please

smiller44

 

[Gasman]

My old boss created a folder on hist desktop in win11 and could then not delete it. I tried even in DOS and still could not.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

You are on Win 11. Open File Explorer from the icon in the bottom tray. It should show you all of the devices that are file-oriented.

On the device that holds the file in question, right-click the file-folder icon. Click Properties. Then click Tools. Now click the button for Error Checking. If I recall correctly, you cannot immediately do error checking on the active system volume but you CAN reboot your system.

During the reboot, you will see your drive being tested. It is possible that this will do nothing for you, but if there is a damaged file, this will either remove it or legitimize it. If the former, the file will be gone. If the latter, you will be able to remove the file.

If Error Checking doesn't fix this problem, you need to run an anti-virus program's full scan. That kind of behavior, though not proof of infection, is common to the behavior of an infected system.

 

[Mike Krailo]

What happens if you create another folder and try and duplicate the issue?

 

[AccessBlaster]

is it possible to inadvertently include special or invisible characters in a folder name making it act up? Just spitballing here.

 

[Mike Krailo]

There is something the OP is not telling us. I can create a folder in Win11 and put stuff in it and turn around and deleted it without issue. So there is more to this.

 

[CJ_London]

the path shows as c/users/sagent/documents/music

I presume this is a typo?