Mary writes:

I have a number of folders on my C drive that contain multiple letters and numbers. I have tried deleting these, but cannot (I did read the older posts on this website on how to do that,by going to the security tab under properties for the folder and making yourself the administrator, but it didn’t work, I was still denied access). The problem is that these files are taking up memory and I don’t believe they are adding any value. An example of a folder name is 2a5ef2fd00d234b9650f5. Can you tell me how to delete them?

This is something that’s particular to the Windows XP OS, as I haven’t seen it happen in any version of Windows before or after XP.

Unfortunately, I don’t have a screenshot of this, but what happens is that when Windows performs and auto-update as it periodically does, update folders are left behind in the root of the host drive (which for most people is drive C). They have really long gibberish-style names as Mary describes above. You try to delete these folders but can’t, even if you have full Administrator access.

The root cause of these undeletable folders is that something loads on Windows startup that "hooks" the folders and doesn’t permit them to be deleted. Could be a peripheral, could be a service, could be anything.

To delete the folders, you must purposely shut down the computer, restart, and login to Windows as the Administrator account in Safe Mode.

1. Shutdown Windows so the PC turns off.

2. Start the PC and start tapping the F8 key right after you hit the power button.

3. A menu will eventually pop up asking what mode you want to start Windows it. Stop tapping the F8 key and choose to login to Windows in "Safe Mode" (no networking) with your arrow keys and press Enter.

Choose "Windows XP" after this; it will be your only choice.

4. Windows will take a very long time to start; this is normal when loading the OS this way. You’ll see this:

Click Yes.

5. When prompted to login, do so as Administrator. The Windows environment will look "very basic" with a very low resolution and "Safe Mode" at all four corners of the screen.

6. Go to My Computer, host drive (usually C), find those crazy-numbered folders and delete them. You will be able to delete them this time.

Shut down and restart normally.

Like what you read?

If so, please join over 28,000 people who receive our exclusive weekly newsletter and computer tips, and get FREE COPIES of 5 eBooks we created, as our gift to you for subscribing. Just enter your name and email below: