Can't Delete Corrputed GPX\Archive Folder

[+ecanderson]

Device has corrupted GPX\Archive folder. Windows claims content 86.6GB (obviously impossible). Folders and files within have corrupted names.

GPX\Archive folder is Read-Only. Any attempt to reset that flag (in order to delete the folder) shows Read-Only again when returning to folder properties.

Master reset doesn't touch this folder (nor my valid files in the GPX folder, like geocaches.gpx -- always thought it would).

 

Suggestions?

[+GeoTrekker26]

Get a live Linux distribution and delete the file from inside Linux; there are several flavors available. I would suggest a backup of as much as you can before you do the delete and again after but before you do anything else. Good luck.

[+Viajero Perdido]

Or take a chance with the Windows disk-repair utility, scandisk I think it's called.

 

(What's a Linux guy like me doing recommending a Windows utility?!?)

[+ecanderson]

Or take a chance with the Windows disk-repair utility, scandisk I think it's called.

 

(What's a Linux guy like me doing recommending a Windows utility?!?)

Creating a solution, I guess! I was hesitant to run Scandisk against something with a structure so messy that it reported absurd usage figures, but after a full backup of good content, voila. Errant folder rendered into a 16K file that can be deleted. FOUND.000 created as read-only folder in device root of only 64K. Flag easily reset and 'sticks'. Both deleted, and I'm a happy camper.

[+Viajero Perdido]

Whew!

 

I figured, since Windows invented that file format (FAT), it should be able to fix it too. Glad it worked.

[+ecanderson]

Likewise. The device was functional, but few things bother me more than operating any piece of gear that has a known corrupt file system. Knowing what a FAT directory looks like and how space is allocated and deallocated within that structure, it could have been a ticking time bomb.