When I was unpacking a file it went into a loop and started to create folders within folders within folders etc. This went on for some time and when I now try to delete the folder I get the message "Cannot delete README.:Cannot find the specified file. Make sure you specify the correct path and file name." I think I could have deleted it under DOS if I were using win 9x but not under XP. The folder is taking up approx 6GB of disk space!! Any suggestions gratefully received.

sounds like you have a virus my friend. in this case you cannot quarentine or delete this folder using any anti virus because the file is in use by windows. did you install windows using the NTFS installation? if so then i don't know much you could do. if you installed it using the fat32 file system then try inserting the "WIN Me" installation disk and boot your computer, that way you have access to all of your files through DOS. good luck

Check out the following, it may help: http://support.microsoft.com/search/preview.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q308421 http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q315226 http://support.microsoft.com/search/preview.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q308419 http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];Q307859

Here's another I should have included, most important one : http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q320081

Yes I think I would be inclined to agree with Kade, it sounds like you may have a virus from the symptoms you describe. I would maybe scan with something like Norton Antivirus or similar. I had something like what you describe recently and it turned out to be a trojan which was quarantined and removed. good luck.

try www.trendmicro.com free online virus scan. If clean, right click the problem drive - properties - tools - error checking - check both boxes & see if any errors are reported. Good luck