Accessing or Deleting an Inaccessible File/Folder

While the rights may be adjusted using CACLS or the like, there are occationally files hat prove inpenitrable. It seems that the pleasantries of Long File Names can occationally curse us if that LFN gets corrupted. You can do what you want to delete the folder but it won't budge. But... there's a trick... go to a command prompt and perform a DIR /X on the folder containing this file or folder. The /X switch shows you the 8.3 or short names for these files, rename the problematic file using the short name and all is well (i.e. REN ALLDEA~2 XXX).

While this isn't the only way into a file that's inaccessible, it may be the last resort with a file that's got a corrupt filename.