Strange Win98 Problem

I have a very strange problem! While on the Internet, I did a SEND TO to put
a shortcut on my Desktop for a website that I had been viewing. I noticed
later that the name of this shortcut, as it appeared on the Desktop, was
extremely long (however, the URL that it pointed to was of normal length). I
tried to do a RIGHT CLICK & DELETE on it, and I also tried to CLICK & DRAG it
to the RECYCLE BIN, but Windows wouldn't permit either of these delete
attempts. All I got was an error message that I cannot delete nor move this
shortcut because its name is too long and that I should change it to a
different name. Taking the hint (?), I then tried to shorten its name using
RIGHT CLICK & RENAME, but Windows wouldn't allow this either, again saying
the name was still too long (despite my attempts to rename the shortcut to
just a SINGLE character name!) This is all very odd. I've never encountered
anything quite like this before. I basically can't do anything to delete or
rename this Desktop shortcut, nor to move it off the Desktop. I can only move
it around the Desktop, or run it. Would anyone be able to tell me, please,
how I might be able to permanently delete this shortcut?

Tx ... Murphil

Jot down the first six letters of the shortcut name. Then go to
StartRun box, type in command, Enter.

If the prompt isn't already at C:\Windows\Desktop, then do the
following, pressing Enter at the end of each line:

cd \
cd windows
cd desktop

(there's a space after cd in each of those commands.)

Once you're at the C:\Windows\Desktop prompt, do this:

dir xxxxxx*

where xxxxxx is the first six characters in the name of the shortcut.
You should get a file named:

xxxxxx~1.URL

If that doesn't show up, then you probably have separate user profiles.
In that case, do this:

cd ..
cd profiles
cd {YourUserName}
cd desktop

Then try the DIR command again. Once you are certain you see the correct
file, then do this:

del xxxxxx~1.URL

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User
http://www.grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
http://www.grystmill.com/articles/security.htm

"Murphil" wrote in message
...
I have a very strange problem! While on the Internet, I did a SEND TO
to put
a shortcut on my Desktop for a website that I had been viewing. I
noticed
later that the name of this shortcut, as it appeared on the Desktop,
was
extremely long (however, the URL that it pointed to was of normal
length). I
tried to do a RIGHT CLICK & DELETE on it, and I also tried to CLICK &
DRAG it
to the RECYCLE BIN, but Windows wouldn't permit either of these delete
attempts. All I got was an error message that I cannot delete nor move
this
shortcut because its name is too long and that I should change it to a
different name. Taking the hint (?), I then tried to shorten its name
using
RIGHT CLICK & RENAME, but Windows wouldn't allow this either, again
saying
the name was still too long (despite my attempts to rename the
shortcut to
just a SINGLE character name!) This is all very odd. I've never
encountered
anything quite like this before. I basically can't do anything to
delete or
rename this Desktop shortcut, nor to move it off the Desktop. I can
only move
it around the Desktop, or run it. Would anyone be able to tell me,
please,
how I might be able to permanently delete this shortcut?

Tx ... Murphil

Wow, you are burning the midnight oil too, Gary. I actually got up after a
few (2) hours of sleep and currently my pumpkin pie is cooling, then I will
have a small slice and it is off to bed for me for a few (3-5) hours more of
sleep. -- :

I do best with 7 hours but will tolerate as little as 3 hours as long as it
is not a pattern -- grinning and bearing it no offense Robear -- just a
joke -- you can make one of me if you want.

"Gary S. Terhune" wrote in message
...
: Jot down the first six letters of the shortcut name. Then go to
: StartRun box, type in command, Enter.
:
: If the prompt isn't already at C:\Windows\Desktop, then do the
: following, pressing Enter at the end of each line:
:
: cd \
: cd windows
: cd desktop
:
: (there's a space after cd in each of those commands.)
:
: Once you're at the C:\Windows\Desktop prompt, do this:
:
: dir xxxxxx*
:
: where xxxxxx is the first six characters in the name of the shortcut.
: You should get a file named:
:
: xxxxxx~1.URL
:
: If that doesn't show up, then you probably have separate user profiles.
: In that case, do this:
:
: cd ..
: cd profiles
: cd {YourUserName}
: cd desktop
:
: Then try the DIR command again. Once you are certain you see the correct
: file, then do this:
:
: del xxxxxx~1.URL
:
: --
: Gary S. Terhune
: MS MVP Shell/User
: http://www.grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
: http://www.grystmill.com/articles/security.htm
:
: "Murphil" wrote in message
: ...
: I have a very strange problem! While on the Internet, I did a SEND TO
: to put
: a shortcut on my Desktop for a website that I had been viewing. I
: noticed
: later that the name of this shortcut, as it appeared on the Desktop,
: was
: extremely long (however, the URL that it pointed to was of normal
: length). I
: tried to do a RIGHT CLICK & DELETE on it, and I also tried to CLICK &
: DRAG it
: to the RECYCLE BIN, but Windows wouldn't permit either of these delete
: attempts. All I got was an error message that I cannot delete nor move
: this
: shortcut because its name is too long and that I should change it to a
: different name. Taking the hint (?), I then tried to shorten its name
: using
: RIGHT CLICK & RENAME, but Windows wouldn't allow this either, again
: saying
: the name was still too long (despite my attempts to rename the
: shortcut to
: just a SINGLE character name!) This is all very odd. I've never
: encountered
: anything quite like this before. I basically can't do anything to
: delete or
: rename this Desktop shortcut, nor to move it off the Desktop. I can
: only move
: it around the Desktop, or run it. Would anyone be able to tell me,
: please,
: how I might be able to permanently delete this shortcut?
:
: Tx ... Murphil
:

For at least a week, now, I've been going to bed in the late morning
(after 9 am) and getting up in the afternoon. "Last night" I went to bed
early--around 7am. I've been writing a lot of script and juggling a new
database for our business.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP Shell/User
http://www.grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
http://www.grystmill.com/articles/security.htm

"Dan" wrote in message
...
Wow, you are burning the midnight oil too, Gary. I actually got up
after a
few (2) hours of sleep and currently my pumpkin pie is cooling, then I
will
have a small slice and it is off to bed for me for a few (3-5) hours
more of
sleep. -- :

Wow, you certainly are busy. Fridays are my Sabbath day to relax, recharge
and rejuvinate as well as Sunday off from work for church stuff. I usually
work Saturdays at Target Corporation. Anyway, great problems at my store in
Tucson, Arizona on Friday and they called me at 9am to see if I could come in
to work to put out fires (help solve their problems) and other stuff. I
smartly refused -- had a great time on Mt. Lemon at a wonderful cafe called
the Mount Lemon Cafe that serves delicious home made pies at an elevation of
about 8,000-9,000 feet above sea level. Next, I went to a friends 23rd
birthday party named Cody and we went to a steakhouse. The dinner rocked and
I had two glasses of Francis Ford Coppola wine and I was very happy and
pleased with myself. I gave the restaurant a good tip as well as providing
some personnel information in exchange for me being on their VIP (Very
Important Person) list and being on their mailing list to get discount
coupons. It is a brand new restaurant called Flemmings that has excellent
prime steak. Anyway, I can hardly believe that it is already March. Whew,
time sure does fly when you are having fun. BTW, I talked to Microsoft on
Saturday and the technical support guy that I talked to told me how the
janitor called him at 4am to ask him to come into work --- needless to say he
was ticked and told the janitor never to call him that early again and I
thought I had it bad by being disturbed at 9am on my day off!

LOL!!

"Gary S. Terhune" wrote in message
...
: For at least a week, now, I've been going to bed in the late morning
: (after 9 am) and getting up in the afternoon. "Last night" I went to bed
: early--around 7am. I've been writing a lot of script and juggling a new
: database for our business.
:
: --
: Gary S. Terhune
: MS MVP Shell/User
: http://www.grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
: http://www.grystmill.com/articles/security.htm
:
: "Dan" wrote in message
: ...
: Wow, you are burning the midnight oil too, Gary. I actually got up
: after a
: few (2) hours of sleep and currently my pumpkin pie is cooling, then I
: will
: have a small slice and it is off to bed for me for a few (3-5) hours
: more of
: sleep. -- :
:

If you are certain it is not a system file/folder or otherwise
important, then...

(1) "START button, Programs, MS-DOS Prompt".
(2) Type "DEL " at the C:\ Prompt, if it is a file, or
Type "DELTREE " instead, if it is a folder.
(No quotes, but there is a space.)
(3) Open Explorer to that file or folder.
(4) Grab the file/folder with the R-Mouse button & drag it over the
Prompt button in the Taskbar.
(5) When the DOS window opens, drop the file into it.

Hit the ENTER key, IF you've dragged the right one into there.

If that doesn't do it (because the file is in use), then "START, Shut
down, Restart in MS-DOS mode", and DEL the short name there. The short
name will be it's first six letters (not including spaces) followed by a
tilde (~) and a number. Very likely that number is one (1). You'll see
it in the DOS window.


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"Murphil" wrote in message
...
| I have a very strange problem! While on the Internet, I did a SEND TO
to put
| a shortcut on my Desktop for a website that I had been viewing. I
noticed
| later that the name of this shortcut, as it appeared on the Desktop,
was
| extremely long (however, the URL that it pointed to was of normal
length). I
| tried to do a RIGHT CLICK & DELETE on it, and I also tried to CLICK &
DRAG it
| to the RECYCLE BIN, but Windows wouldn't permit either of these delete
| attempts. All I got was an error message that I cannot delete nor move
this
| shortcut because its name is too long and that I should change it to a
| different name. Taking the hint (?), I then tried to shorten its name
using
| RIGHT CLICK & RENAME, but Windows wouldn't allow this either, again
saying
| the name was still too long (despite my attempts to rename the
shortcut to
| just a SINGLE character name!) This is all very odd. I've never
encountered
| anything quite like this before. I basically can't do anything to
delete or
| rename this Desktop shortcut, nor to move it off the Desktop. I can
only move
| it around the Desktop, or run it. Would anyone be able to tell me,
please,
| how I might be able to permanently delete this shortcut?
|
| Tx ... Murphil

PCR ... Thank you. Your suggestion worked like a charm! I was able to simply
delete the offending shortcut file from the C:\WINDOWS\DESKTOP folder - the
shortcut no longer appears on my Desktop. I never thought to try the MS DOS
approach even though I have used it a few times in the past myself to
manipulate files/folders. I guess I had a brain cramp on this one! Even so,
I've never seen such a weird problem! Any idea what rules Windows Explorer
applies when deciding to block users from deleting/renaming/moving certain
files? ... Murphil


"PCR" wrote:

If you are certain it is not a system file/folder or otherwise
important, then...

(1) "START button, Programs, MS-DOS Prompt".
(2) Type "DEL " at the C:\ Prompt, if it is a file, or
Type "DELTREE " instead, if it is a folder.
(No quotes, but there is a space.)
(3) Open Explorer to that file or folder.
(4) Grab the file/folder with the R-Mouse button & drag it over the
Prompt button in the Taskbar.
(5) When the DOS window opens, drop the file into it.

Hit the ENTER key, IF you've dragged the right one into there.

If that doesn't do it (because the file is in use), then "START, Shut
down, Restart in MS-DOS mode", and DEL the short name there. The short
name will be it's first six letters (not including spaces) followed by a
tilde (~) and a number. Very likely that number is one (1). You'll see
it in the DOS window.


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"Murphil" wrote in message
...
| I have a very strange problem! While on the Internet, I did a SEND TO
to put
| a shortcut on my Desktop for a website that I had been viewing. I
noticed
| later that the name of this shortcut, as it appeared on the Desktop,
was
| extremely long (however, the URL that it pointed to was of normal
length). I
| tried to do a RIGHT CLICK & DELETE on it, and I also tried to CLICK &
DRAG it
| to the RECYCLE BIN, but Windows wouldn't permit either of these delete
| attempts. All I got was an error message that I cannot delete nor move
this
| shortcut because its name is too long and that I should change it to a
| different name. Taking the hint (?), I then tried to shorten its name
using
| RIGHT CLICK & RENAME, but Windows wouldn't allow this either, again
saying
| the name was still too long (despite my attempts to rename the
shortcut to
| just a SINGLE character name!) This is all very odd. I've never
encountered
| anything quite like this before. I basically can't do anything to
delete or
| rename this Desktop shortcut, nor to move it off the Desktop. I can
only move
| it around the Desktop, or run it. Would anyone be able to tell me,
please,
| how I might be able to permanently delete this shortcut?
|
| Tx ... Murphil

Start scandisk, go to "Advanced" on scandisk window, and
"check" "Invalid file names", and "Report MS-DOS mode name
length error"

RUn scandisk on the drive on which that file is there.

It should handle that.
---
Otherwise, if you have norton systemwork, run the scandisk
for that. That is already have that option set.
---

I concede that I am giving a workaround to your problem. I
am curious how it happened and how to prevent it from recurring.

--
Rawat

If you are certain it is not a system file/folder or otherwise
important, then...

(1) "START button, Programs, MS-DOS Prompt".
(2) Type "DEL " at the C:\ Prompt, if it is a file, or
Type "DELTREE " instead, if it is a folder.
(No quotes, but there is a space.)
(3) Open Explorer to that file or folder.
(4) Grab the file/folder with the R-Mouse button & drag it over the
Prompt button in the Taskbar.
(5) When the DOS window opens, drop the file into it.

Hit the ENTER key, IF you've dragged the right one into there.

If that doesn't do it (because the file is in use), then "START, Shut
down, Restart in MS-DOS mode", and DEL the short name there. The short
name will be it's first six letters (not including spaces) followed by a
tilde (~) and a number. Very likely that number is one (1). You'll see
it in the DOS window.


-- Thanks or Good Luck, There may be humor in this post, and, Naturally, you will not sue, should things get worse after this, PCR "Murphil" wrote in message ... | I have a very strange problem! While on the Internet, I did a SEND TO to put | a shortcut on my Desktop for a website that I had been viewing. I noticed | later that the name of this shortcut, as it appeared on the Desktop, was | extremely long (however, the URL that it pointed to was of normal length). I | tried to do a RIGHT CLICK & DELETE on it, and I also tried to CLICK & DRAG it | to the RECYCLE BIN, but Windows wouldn't permit either of these delete | attempts. All I got was an error message that I cannot delete nor move this | shortcut because its name is too long and that I should change it to a | different name. Taking the hint (?), I then tried to shorten its name using | RIGHT CLICK & RENAME,
but Windows wouldn't allow this either, again saying | the name was still too long (despite my attempts to rename the shortcut to | just a SINGLE character name!) This is all very odd. I've never encountered | anything quite like this before. I basically can't do anything to delete or | rename this Desktop shortcut, nor to move it off the Desktop. I can only move | it around the Desktop, or run it. Would anyone be able to tell me, please, | how I might be able to permanently delete this shortcut? | | Tx ... Murphil

You are welcome. I should know what the rule is, having seen Blanton
post the exact numbers often enough. I think at around 78 characters,
Windows has a tough time dealing with file names. The Path+file name
must not exceed 80, maybe. (I can't find it in my "Keepers".)


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"Murphil" wrote in message
...
| PCR ... Thank you. Your suggestion worked like a charm! I was able to
simply
| delete the offending shortcut file from the C:\WINDOWS\DESKTOP
folder - the
| shortcut no longer appears on my Desktop. I never thought to try the
MS DOS
| approach even though I have used it a few times in the past myself to
| manipulate files/folders. I guess I had a brain cramp on this one!
Even so,
| I've never seen such a weird problem! Any idea what rules Windows
Explorer
| applies when deciding to block users from deleting/renaming/moving
certain
| files? ... Murphil
|
|
| "PCR" wrote:
|
| If you are certain it is not a system file/folder or otherwise
| important, then...
|
| (1) "START button, Programs, MS-DOS Prompt".
| (2) Type "DEL " at the C:\ Prompt, if it is a file, or
| Type "DELTREE " instead, if it is a folder.
| (No quotes, but there is a space.)
| (3) Open Explorer to that file or folder.
| (4) Grab the file/folder with the R-Mouse button & drag it over the
| Prompt button in the Taskbar.
| (5) When the DOS window opens, drop the file into it.
|
| Hit the ENTER key, IF you've dragged the right one into there.
|
| If that doesn't do it (because the file is in use), then "START,
Shut
| down, Restart in MS-DOS mode", and DEL the short name there. The
short
| name will be it's first six letters (not including spaces) followed
by a
| tilde (~) and a number. Very likely that number is one (1). You'll
see
| it in the DOS window.
|
|
| --
| Thanks or Good Luck,
| There may be humor in this post, and,
| Naturally, you will not sue,
| should things get worse after this,
| PCR
|
| "Murphil" wrote in message
| ...
| | I have a very strange problem! While on the Internet, I did a SEND
TO
| to put
| | a shortcut on my Desktop for a website that I had been viewing. I
| noticed
| | later that the name of this shortcut, as it appeared on the
Desktop,
| was
| | extremely long (however, the URL that it pointed to was of normal
| length). I
| | tried to do a RIGHT CLICK & DELETE on it, and I also tried to
CLICK &
| DRAG it
| | to the RECYCLE BIN, but Windows wouldn't permit either of these
delete
| | attempts. All I got was an error message that I cannot delete nor
move
| this
| | shortcut because its name is too long and that I should change it
to a
| | different name. Taking the hint (?), I then tried to shorten its
name
| using
| | RIGHT CLICK & RENAME, but Windows wouldn't allow this either,
again
| saying
| | the name was still too long (despite my attempts to rename the
| shortcut to
| | just a SINGLE character name!) This is all very odd. I've never
| encountered
| | anything quite like this before. I basically can't do anything to
| delete or
| | rename this Desktop shortcut, nor to move it off the Desktop. I
can
| only move
| | it around the Desktop, or run it. Would anyone be able to tell me,
| please,
| | how I might be able to permanently delete this shortcut?
| |
| | Tx ... Murphil
|
|
|

He said his was an URL he downloaded. Scandisk could possibly do it too.
But I don't quite recall whether it gives an option to delete, or just
to "fix". I have two Macromedia files or folders that always get flagged
by Scandisk. Once, I asked it to fix them, but it only moved them up
higher in the folder tree. Next time Macromedia Flash ran, it put both
back where they were before! I HATE those two! Now, I just ignore them.
Ah, here they are...

The C:\WINDOWS\APPLIC~1\MACROM~1\FLASHP~1\MACROM~1.COM \SUPPORT\FLASHP~1
folder could not be opened in MS-DOS mode because its complete short
name
was longer than 66 characters.
Resolution: Ignore this error and continue
Results: Error was corrected as specified above.

The
C:\WINDOWS\APPLIC~1\MACROM~1\FLASHP~1\MACROM~1.COM \SUPPORT\FLASHP~1\SYS
folder could not be opened in MS-DOS mode because its complete short
name
was longer than 66 characters.
Resolution: Ignore this error and continue
Results: Error was corrected as specified above.


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"V S Rawat" wrote in message
...
| Start scandisk, go to "Advanced" on scandisk window, and
| "check" "Invalid file names", and "Report MS-DOS mode name
| length error"
|
| RUn scandisk on the drive on which that file is there.
|
| It should handle that.
| ---
| Otherwise, if you have norton systemwork, run the scandisk
| for that. That is already have that option set.
| ---
|
| I concede that I am giving a workaround to your problem. I
| am curious how it happened and how to prevent it from recurring.
|
| --
| Rawat
|
| If you are certain it is not a system file/folder or otherwise
| important, then...
|
| (1) "START button, Programs, MS-DOS Prompt".
| (2) Type "DEL " at the C:\ Prompt, if it is a file, or
| Type "DELTREE " instead, if it is a folder.
| (No quotes, but there is a space.)
| (3) Open Explorer to that file or folder.
| (4) Grab the file/folder with the R-Mouse button & drag it over the
| Prompt button in the Taskbar.
| (5) When the DOS window opens, drop the file into it.
|
| Hit the ENTER key, IF you've dragged the right one into there.
|
| If that doesn't do it (because the file is in use), then "START,
Shut
| down, Restart in MS-DOS mode", and DEL the short name there. The
short
| name will be it's first six letters (not including spaces) followed
by a
| tilde (~) and a number. Very likely that number is one (1). You'll
see
| it in the DOS window.
|
|
| -- Thanks or Good Luck, There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue, should things get worse after this, PCR
"Murphil" wrote
in message ... |
I have a very strange problem! While on the Internet, I did a SEND TO to
put | a shortcut on my Desktop for a website that I had been viewing. I
noticed | later that the name of this shortcut, as it appeared on the
Desktop, was | extremely long (however, the URL that it pointed to was
of normal length). I | tried to do a RIGHT CLICK & DELETE on it, and I
also tried to CLICK & DRAG it | to the RECYCLE BIN, but Windows wouldn't
permit either of these delete | attempts. All I got was an error message
that I cannot delete nor move this | shortcut because its name is too
long and that I should change it to a | different name. Taking the hint
(?), I then tried to shorten its name using | RIGHT CLICK & RENAME,
| but Windows wouldn't allow this either, again saying | the name was
still too long (despite my attempts to rename the shortcut to | just a
SINGLE character name!) This is all very odd. I've never encountered |
anything quite like this before. I basically can't do anything to delete
or | rename this Desktop shortcut, nor to move it off the Desktop. I can
only move | it around the Desktop, or run it. Would anyone be able to
tell me, please, | how I might be able to permanently delete this
shortcut? | | Tx ... Murphil
|
|