I tried using the command lines but to no avail, as I encountered the error "Permission Denied", even after taking ownership of the folder, etc.
I would like to add if you would like to reserve the possibility to roll back to a previous version of Windows, then please do not attempt this folder removal, otherwise all records of your previous Windows will remain after the removal.
This post is for an emergency fix in the case the existence of your "Windows.old" file may cause problems in some scenarios.
There are several steps to accomplish the task:
Press Windows key + R to open up a Run command in the search bar right next to the Windows icon. Then, in the Run command, type “ms-settings:storagesense” and hit Enter to open the Storage screen.
On the right side under "Local Storage", click on the C drive (or the drive letter that holds your Windows files) concerned.
Choose "Temporary files".
Then choose to remove "Previous version of Windows" along with any other options you desire.
Click on "Remove" files.
Check that the "Windows.old" folder has indeed been removed from your C drive.
Related
Note: I am sorry if I posted this in the wrong stack exchange website. I have seen similar questions on this website. Please correct me if it was wrong.
So I installed VLC into the directory D:\misc\vlc and when I type "vlc" into command prompt, it starts the VLC media player. However, I want to run this "vlc" command in the directory D:\slam\ . However, every time I do that, it says that "'vlc' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.".
Is there a way to run the 'vlc' command in any directory?
Any help is appreciated.
You can add the vlc program to the PATH in Windows using the "Edit Environment Variables" dialog. Assuming Windows 10 (though this dialog is present in older versions too), here is how to add a program to the PATH:
Open the Start Search, type in “env”, and choose “Edit the system environment variables”
Click the “Environment Variables…” button.
Under the “System Variables” section (the lower half), find the row with “Path” in the first column, and click edit.
The “Edit environment variable” UI will appear. Here, you can click “New” and type in the new path you want to add. From this screen you can also edit or reorder them.
Dismiss all of the dialogs by choosing “OK”.
Your changes are saved! You will probably need to restart apps for them to pick up the change. Restarting the machine would ensure all apps are run with the PATH change.
In step 4 above, the new path that you will type is the directory containing the vlc program, e.g. "D:\misc". Note that adding this directory will also make any other programs inside of the "misc" directory accessible as well.
I have a box running Windows Server 2008 R2.
If I look at a certain directory with Windows Explorer -- c:\windows\system32\inetsrv\config -- I see 2 subdirectories and 3 files.
Then I go into a program and use an open box to open a file. I navigate to that directory. I can see the 2 subdirectories, but no files appear. If I type in the name of the file (applicationHost.cofnig), it says that it does not exist.
I've tried this with Notepad++, Wordpad, and Filezilla Client. The filter is set to ..
What's really killing me is that I'm trying to open this file from within a VB program, and it's saying not found.
Oh, and here's a kicker: If I access the file with a UNC name, then it works. That is, trying to open "c:\windows\system32\inetsrv\config\applicationhost.config" gives a not-found. But if I write "\server1\c$\windows\system32\inetsrv\config\applicationhost.config", then it works. If I change my VB program to use a UNC name, it works. So I suppose I have a work-around, but I'd really like to understand what's going on.
If instead of logging into the server, I run Notepad++ on my desktop, and enter \server1\c$ and then navigate from there, all three files show up.
Oh, and also, if in Windows Explorer I right-click the file and select "edit with notepad++", it opens. But from within Notepad++, trying to use the open box doesn't work. I tried navigating through the directory tree, and I tried just typing in the full path. Either way, "not found".
I checked my permissions and it says I have "full access" to the directory and to the file.
I am trying to open a .chm file.
I downloaded the source, extracted it, and double clicked on Waffle.chm and clicked "Open" but no matter what element in the chm file I click, I get the message:
Navigation to the webpage was canceled.
What you can try:
Retype the address.
What's going on here?
Summary
Microsoft Security Updates 896358 & 840315 block display of CHM file contents when opened from a network drive (or a UNC path). This is Windows' attempt to stop attack vectors for viruses/malware from infecting your computer and has blocked out the .chm file that draw data over the "InfoTech" protocol, which this chm file uses.
Microsoft's summary of the problem: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896054
Solutions
If you are using Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, windows has created a quick fix. Right click the chm file, and you will get the "yourfile.chm Properties" dialog box, at the bottom, a button called "Unblock" appears. Click Unblock and press OK, and try to open the chm file again, it works correctly. This option is not available for earlier versions of Windows before WindowsXP (SP3).
Solve the problem by moving your chm file OFF the network drive. You may be unaware you are using a network drive, double check now: Right click your .chm file, click properties and look at the "location" field. If it starts with two backslashes like this: \\epicserver\blah\, then you are using a networked drive. So to fix it, Copy the chm file, and paste it into a local drive, like C:\ or E:. Then try to reopen the chm file, windows does not freak out.
Last resort, if you can't copy/move the file off the networked drive. If you must open it where it sits, and you are using a lesser version of windows like XP, Vista, ME or other, you will have to manually tell Windows not to freak out over this .chm file. HHReg (HTML Help Registration Utility) Utility Automates this Task. Basically you download the HHReg utility, load your .chm file, press OK, and it will create the necessary registry keys to tell Windows not to block it. For more info: http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/fix-cannot-view-chm-files-network-xp-2003-vista/
Windows 8 or 10? --> Upgrade to Windows XP.
"unblocking" the file fixes the problem. Screenshot:
Win 8 x64:
just move it to another folder or rename your folder (in my case: my folder was "c#").
avoid to use symbol on folder name. name it with letter.
done.
In addition to Eric Leschinski's answer, and because this is stackoverflow, a programmatical solution:
Windows uses hidden file forks to mark content as "downloaded". Truncating these unblocks the file. The name of the stream used for CHM's is "Zone.Identifier". One can access streams by appending :streamname when opening the file. (keep backups the first time, in case your RTL messes that up!)
In Delphi it would look like this:
var f : file;
begin
writeln('unblocking ',s);
assignfile(f,'some.chm:Zone.Identifier');
rewrite(f,1);
truncate(f);
closefile(f);
end;
I'm told that on non forked filesystems (like FAT32) there are hidden files, but I haven't gotten to the bottom of that yet.
P.s. Delphi's DeleteFile() should also recognize forks.
The definitive solution is to allow the InfoTech protocol to work in the intranet zone.
Add the following value to the registry and the problem should be solved:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\HTMLHelp\1.x\ItssRestrictions]
"MaxAllowedZone"=dword:00000001
More info here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896054
Go to Start
Type regsvr32 hhctrl.ocx
You should get a success message like:
" DllRegisterServer in hhctrl.ocx succeeded "
Now try to open your CHM file again.
other way is to use different third party software. This link shows more third party software to view chm files...
I tried with SumatraPDF and it work fine.
I fixed this programmatically in my software, using C++ Builder.
Before I assign the CHM help file, Application->HelpFile = HelpFileName, I check to see if it contains the "Zone.Identifier" stream, and when it does, I simply remove it.
String ZIStream(HelpFileName + ":Zone.Identifier") ;
if (FileExists(ZIStream))
{ DeleteFile(ZIStream) ; }
There are apparently different levels of authentication. Most articles I read tell you to set the MaxAllowedZone to '1' which means that local machine zone and intranet zone are allowed but '4' allows access for 'all' zones.
For more info, read this article:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/892675
This is how my registry looks (I wasn't sure it would work with the wild cards but it seems to work for me):
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\HTMLHelp]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\HTMLHelp\1.x]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\HTMLHelp\1.x\ItssRestrictions]
"MaxAllowedZone"=dword:00000004
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\HTMLHelp\1.x\ItssRestrictions]
"UrlAllowList"="\\\\<network_path_root>;\\\\<network_path_root>\*;\\ies-inc.local;http://www.*;http://*;https://www.*;https://*;"
As an additional note, weirdly the "UrlAllowList" key was required to make this work on another PC but not my test one. It's probably not required at all but when I added it, it fixed the problem. The user may have not closed the original file or something like that. So just a consideration. I suggest try the least and test it, then add if needed. Once you confirm, you can deploy if needed. Good Luck!
Edit: P.S. Another method that worked was mapping the path to the network locally by using mklink /d (symbolic linking in Windows 7 or newer) but mapping a network drive letter (Z: for testing) did not work. Just food for thought and I did not have to 'Unblock' any files. Also the accepted 'Solution' did not resolve the issue for me.
Moving to local folder is the quickest solution, nothing else worked for me esp because I was not admin on my system (can't edit registery etc), which is a typical case in a work environment.
Create a folder in C:\help drive, lets call it help and copy the files there and open.
Do not copy to mydocuments or anywhere else, those locations are usually on network drive in office setup and will not work.
Our CD autostarts, but occasionally customers have that disabled (by a CD burner, etc.).
As a backup, we include instructions on the back of our CD (below). I'm trying to find better instructions, for Windows XP and above. (Ideally for Windows 98 and above)
CURRENT
If it does not auto-start:
Repeat instructions (above) once. If that fails again:
Click Start | My Computer or double-click My Computer on your Windows® desktop.
Double-click CD drive. Looks like:
OurCompany CD (D:)
CD Contents are listed, usually to the right.
Double-click Start, in the list.
But the My Computer option isn't always on the Desktop and when it is customers have trouble finding it. And Vista doesn't label the start button
ALTERNATIVE
Click "Start" | "Run"
In the box in front of "Open:" type : d:start (where 'd' is drive letter for your CD-ROM.
Problem here is that some people won't know what their CD ROM drive letter is.
Any better suggestions?
One way might be : make an icon on your CD, and have user look for that icon.
Make the icon stand out so it's easy to look for and just tell them to double-click the icon.
Use the same icon on start.exe too.
And you might as well move everything else into its own folder on the CD, leaving only autorun.inf and start.exe on the CD's root.
Well, the Windows+E key will bring up Windows Explorer. You could ask them to press that key combination, and that will at least get them an Explorer window without having to go to the desktop...
This problem crops up every now and then at work. Our build machine can have it's files accessed via a normal windows file share. If someone browses a folder remotely on the machine, and leaves the window open overnight, then the build fails (as it has done now). The explorer window left opened points at one of the sub folders in the source tree. The build deletes the source, and does a clean checkout before building. The delete is failing.
Right now, I'd like to get the build to work. I'm logged in from home, and I'd rather not reboot the build machine. I'm unable to get hold of the person whose machine is looking and the files, and I can't remotely reboot their machine.
When a windows share has a lock, the locking process is System, so I don't think I can kill it, as with normal locks.
Does anyone know a way to release the lock on a shared folder without having to reboot the machine?
If you are admin on the server sharing the file over the network, you can use the Windows in-built feature:
Start → My Computer → Right-click → Manage gets you to the Computer
Management console
In the left nav, navigate to Systems Tools → Shared Folders
You can view Shares, Sessions & Open Files here. This allows you to find out who has opened which files from which workstations.
Right-click on an item in the list to be able to remove the file lock.
Hope this helps.
Found a solution.
Find the process using Process Explorer:
Download and extract procexp.exe
In Process Explorer use the "Find Handle or DLL..." command from the "Find" menu
Enter in the name of the directory which is having trouble deleting
A list of open files which match that name should be shown. Take some guesses and find which one is failing to be deleted. If the file is locked by a windows share, the process holding the file will be System
Note down the directory which was left open
Download and install the Unlocker (Warning: Link removed, as it contains malware)
Install Unlocker, disabling the option for Explorer extensions and other junk
Unlock the directory
Open up a cmd window, and navigate to C:\Program Files\Unlocker
From the cmd window, run Unlocker.exe "the-path-to-the-locked-folder"
A dialog will pop up confirming the lock release. Use the unlock button to unlock the file
Now the directory should be unlocked, and can now be deleted.
Try Process Hacker:
https://wj32.org/processhacker/
Process hacker is like Process Explorer on steroids.
To find the offending process, press CTRL+F or click the "Find Handles of DLLs" button and search for the file name.
Once you find the file in the find handles dialog, you can simply right click the file there and choose "close". (at least for v2.39.124)
Older versions had a "terminator" option in the context menu of the process.
Right click on the offending process --> Miscellaneous --> Terminator --> Select termination techniques. Note that some are possibly dangerous and may have unintended consequences.
I've had similar problems, and none of these suggestions I've seen above look suitable for automated overnight builds (as the original poster implied) because they all require manual effort to hunt down and kill the locks.
The only method I've tried that seems to work reliably is to remove the share itself, make the build, then add the share back. Here's one way of removing the share automatically:
D:\Projects>net share Projects /DELETE /Y
Users have open files on Projects. Continuing the operation will force the files closed.
Projects was deleted successfully.
(NOTE: Creating the share again automatically can be a pain if the privilege groups you need to give it are messy.)
The way i do it is by using both OpenFiles.exe and Handle.exe
You can run them in any order and you will have your resource fully unlocked.
OpenFiles: to disconnect File Sharing sessions
Handle.exe: to release any open handles (don't try to close handles belonging to pid4, since that's the system process)
You can automate this by using powershell, batch, or any language of your choice.
Another option is, starting from Windows Vista, to use the Windows tool built into the system:
monitor resources: perfmon.exe /res
Extracted from: Http://www.sysadmit.com/2017/06/windows-how-to-know-that-process-has-open-a-file.html