Stranded folder/broken link

Question

There is a directory folder "stranded" on my desktop (Windows 10).  I ctrl-c exited a script that was creating the directory and now it seems to be a link to nothing.  It appears as a folder on the desktop.  On the desktop (in Explorer), deleting the item produces the dialog box "Item not found"  The icon can be moved, but not placed in the trash.  However, it can't be moved to another folder.  Refreshing the desktop doesn't help.

In a (administrator) CMD window, it appears in response to a DIR command, but all the other commands one can think of (ATTRIB, RMDIR, DEL) just come back either saying the name is incorrect or doing nothing in the case of del).  There seems to be a broken symbolic link somewhere.

Any suggestions for deleting it would be greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

Since the issue involves creating and executing scripts, I recommend that you post this query on the Microsoft Developer Network forums, which is more geared towards advanced scripting and software development discussions for Windows. 

Regards.

Answer 2

Hi Ken,

This could be a symbolic link set by the script that you mentioned. The steps required in deleting the symbolic links depends on the type of symbolic function used to create it. You might need to check the actual script or contact the provider of the script on what function was used.

Additionally, you can check out the following documentations regarding symbolic links:

• Creating Symbolic Links
• Junction v1.07

Let me know how it goes.

Hi Ferdz, These are helpful links, but I haven't been able to use them to solve the problem.  I did download and use junction (junction64 in my case) which indicates that there are no junction points in the desktop directory where the stranded icon resides.

The script is mine.  It has a MKDIR command to create a directory to contain log files it subsequently writes.  I started the script, realized I would like to do something else, and cntl-c escaped out of it.   Strangely enough, the script made the directory's name with a space at the end of the name (which is not in the script, nor has it done that before).  I looked around and found the syntax >rmdir "\?\c:\users<username>\desktop<directoryname>".  This worked, but I have no idea why (which is a little disturbing...).  Thanks so much for your help.  IF ANYONE KNOWS ABOUT THE \?\ SYNTAX, I'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE.

Answer 3

Hi Ken822,

If it is a phantom file, try running check disc on your drive . . .

Open Windows File Explorer, right click your C Drive and choose Properties

Click on the Tools Tab and click Check

Windows will refuse to check your system drive and ask you if you want to schedule check disc on startup, choose Yes, then restart your PC . ..

Hi Dave, I tried running chkdsk (with the /r /f switches).  It finished successfully, but did not solve the problem.

Answer 4

Hi Ken,

This could be a symbolic link set by the script that you mentioned. The steps required in deleting the symbolic links depends on the type of symbolic function used to create it. You might need to check the actual script or contact the provider of the script on what function was used.

Additionally, you can check out the following documentations regarding symbolic links:

• Creating Symbolic Links
• Junction v1.07

Let me know how it goes.

Answer 5

Hi Ken822,

If it is a phantom file, try running check disc on your drive . . .

Open Windows File Explorer, right click your C Drive and choose Properties

Click on the Tools Tab and click Check

Windows will refuse to check your system drive and ask you if you want to schedule check disc on startup, choose Yes, then restart your PC . ..