Delete stubborn folder with points in name

Question

I'm trying to delete a folder with weird name: "T.E.E.M."
Windows doesn't recognize this kind of name and even tell me the folder can't be found (it was created via NodeJs, but i don't know why windows allowed it).

I tried to delete it normally and it says that the folder can't be found because it doesn't exist.

I tried in prompt too, using the 2 commands del "T.E.E.M." inside the right folder and Rmdir /S "T.E.E.M." but they both don't work. Any suggestion?

Answer 1

Windows cannot handle files/folders ending on a period-symbol ('.'). That's what I discovered when I tried to create the "T.E.E.M."-folder myself. I ended up with a "T.E.E.M"-folder (without the last period). So this might do the trick for you:

del "\\?\<full path to file>"

but since this is a directory, maybe

rmdir /s "\\?\<full path to file>"

works better.

By entering \\?\ string parsing is disabled.

Original answer found here.

Answer 2

I had this problem with a stubborn folder. I tried adjusting the security settings , shift-delete and all of the more standard attempts, I made sure the folder was empty and made sure all files were viewable. In desperation I performed the follwing steps:

1. Command prompt "cmd"
2. Once the command prompt came up I typed in "regedit"
3. Performed search in the registry and poof out popped a listing of the folder with a mystery file shown in the path of the stubborn folder.
4. I deleted the entry (warnings that it is dangerous to fool with the registry.)
5. Rebooted my computer and looked for the now deleted folder and IT WAS GONE.