I have used the DOS prompt resulting from booting from a floppy, to delete some files that may otherwise be locked by Windows. However, DOS does not display \_Restore\, so can not delete files from it. Is there a switch or a method whereby 'invisible' folders (and files) can be accessed by DOS ?

Basty

Better to keep it all on one thread, so refer to your other one.

From the a:\> prompt type c: and enter. Then at the c:\> prompt type cd _restore and enter. To get to it's temp directory type then type cd temp and enter at the c:\_restore> prompt. Then you can delete its files by typing del *.* and enter. (Make sure the you're in the right directory by verifying the prompt as c:\_restore\temp>)

You can view the hidden or system files and folders by using dir/a:h for hidden files or dir/a:s for system files.

Or, more simply:

del c:\_restore\temp

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If they're hidden sys or read-only, you may need to do this first:

attrib -s -r -h c:\_restore\temp\*.*

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=====================================
If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.

M2

Your mileage is going to vary in ME depending on what, if anything, you have lodged in there.

It'd be safer to try and get rid of the whole folder if you're going down a DOS route. Just type:

c:\windows\command\deltree /y c:\_restore

Let Windows rebuild and put back the _RESTORE folder on reboot.

But again, your mileage is going to vary. ...or you could just let Windows purge normally by disabling state manager, ala the other thread.

Hi Viking,

YMMV LOL

Yeah, probably better to wipe the whole dir than cut out chunks. Tends to makle windows lose iit's way.

=====================================
If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.

M2

Hi M2G,

Windows ME is without doubt the worst OS, ill concieved, thrown together, contrary pile of crap perpertrated on mankind, there's no glossing over that fact. ...the fact that you have to turn everything off and disable things to get it to function in a reasonable manner is testament to that.

The only reason I keep a copy going to this day, in various guises, is because it's like the evil black sheep, b---tard child no-one loves - and that someone on planet earth is going to be stuck with it at some point.

And I like outsiders :-D

DOS 4 runs a pretty close second.

=====================================
If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.

M2

Turn off system restore, reboot, turn it back on.

Better yet, turn it off & leave it off.

He can't, that's what he's having difficulty doing. I told him to disable state manager in msconfig and try again in his other post.

Amen to leaving it off when he's done though.

DAVEINCAPS - using dir/a:h - not only could I see the hidden files, but I could even delete them ! Thanks a million !

Basty

Interesting comments - I beg to differ about WinMe, Viking, - it does me fine. When it's inadequate I use WinXP. I had previously disabled StateMgr in MSConfig, so no mileage there.

I would not be tempted to use DOS4 when DOS7 is available.

I think I may have learned more than one thing from this post - great, Thanks guys.

Basty

It's served me well for the most part too, I've had it and used it since day one. That doesn't alter the fact that it's the worst Windows operating system by default. Tweak it and you can make it run ok within it's own parameters, but you shouldn't have to tweak it.

And if you do an ME forum search on "system restore" you will see the havoc it's caused over the years and you'll also notice the sheer volume of problems, and of course, the solutions that have worked for people, which is partly the reason for the contrary comment.

I'm glad it worked for you. I hope you got rid of the virus.

I don't use ME much. The main problem I have with it is its minimal native dos support. It does have better support for USB devices than 98.

It would have been so much better had they not tried to mutate 98 into a newer OS and just integrated the updates into a 98 third edition.