Hi. I downloaded a program that eats it's way through scratched cds and takes hours to grab folders & files from it. I cancelled after 24 hours because it was just taking way too long on one cd. I wanted to delete the whole folder but some of the folders and files had a space after or before the name. For example, "diane ". In both DOS and XPDOS, I was able to delete the files. But the folders appear as 'doesnt exist'. And trying to access it inside Win98 or WinXP, it says it doesnt exist. And trying to delete it gives me and error 1026. Checking microsoft help website on that error does not talk anything about folders with spaces. So in conclusion, Ive got several folders with spaces after the name which I cant access nor delete in any way. The only option I have is plug in a MAC and network it somehow and get the mac to delete it. MIGHT work, MIGHT not. Does anyone have any ideas?? -- TKM

G'day Kiwi, although this might not work but if it were me I would try these things, knowing that the folders 'do not exist' I would try and rename these folders. Why, because once I had a 'non-existant' folder that would not go away and I was able to just rename it...then I deleted it. This I did in 98 mode. Another idea [theory] is to make a new set of folders somewhere with the exact names and copy over the 'non-existant' folders, in theory they might become existant and thus be deleted....in theory. Perhaps reinstalling that hungry program but don't run it, delete what you can first then uninstall the program properly [not just delete but uninstall] and then see what happens.

I like Ronnie Ratt's ideas. Before going any further I would do a thorough scandisk so that things don't spin out of control. Carrying on to Ronnie Ratt's 3rd paragraph, you might move them to a drive which contains nothing you need, then format it. Worth a shot. ===================================== If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2Go

"I downloaded a program that eats it's way through scratched cds and takes hours to grab folders & files from it" if the scratches are on the bottom of the disc, all you need to do if polish them out. If the scratches are on the top in the data substrate, you have problems

killdisk - Google for it. It's free.

Unfortunately, the folders are on my desktop. Ive tried renaming. It gives me a box saying "Cannot rename file: Cannot read from the source file or disk." Copying or moving doesnt work either. Heres a strange thing. If I rightclick/properties on an ordinary folder, it displays actual folder properties: For example Type: File Folder Location: C:\ But if I rightclick/properties on the "diane " folder, It displays a properties window similar to a file properties window. Type of file: File Folder Opens with: {BLANK} --------------------- Location: D:\... ...\Desktop\New Folder\VVVVVVVV Size: 0 bytes Size on disk: 0 bytes --------------------- Created: {BLANK} Modified: {BLANK} Accessed: {BLANK} {BLANK} means that there is nothing in that field. In other words, explorer thinks that the bad folders are files even though the type of file is "file folder". Theres a button called 'Change...' in the properties window. But that gives me a window to open all 'file folders' using a program and that sounds dangerous. Dont want all my folders to be opened by some program. Well thats about it for now.

I think your problem goes beyond the "space" which is why I recommanded scandisk. U just created a folder named "diane " and deleted it with: deltree d:\dia* Try this. Explore the folder containing the problem folder. Single click the folder so it's highlighted. Press F2. Then press ctrl-c. Open notepad and press ctrl-v. See what you get. If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2