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Deleting ._ files appearing on a windows server

In trying to create and then delete some folders on a windows server running server 2003, various ._ files appear. Because the original files were deleted first, I am unable to delete the files on the windows server. I need them deleted. How do I accomplish the task?

Dual 2.3 G5, Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Posted on Aug 31, 2006 1:18 PM

Reply
16 replies

Aug 31, 2006 5:36 PM in response to MacAllegro

Here is a direct link:

http://falcon.unroutable.net/Lists/Announcements/DispForm.aspx?ID=13&Source=http %3A%2F%2Ffalcon%2Eunroutable%2Enet%2Fdefault%2Easpx

On the 2003 box, open up My Computer, go to Tools -> Folder options. Click on the View tab. Click on the "Show hidden files and folders" radio button. Uncheck "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)". Hit the Apply button. Click on the "Apply to All Folders" button, then hit the OK button.

Again, on the 2003 Server, browse to the folder that contains the ._ files and delete them.

Aug 31, 2006 5:51 PM in response to MacAllegro

Trevor, please don't give up on me yet. I have to go home now, so will have to wait until the am.

I am also having trouble deleting the network trash folders. The error reads:

Cannot remove folder Network Trash Folder: It is being used by another person or program. Close any programs that might be using the file and try again. The only thing that is running to my knowledge is Retrospect for backing up.

Suggestions?

Aug 31, 2006 5:53 PM in response to MacAllegro

You either might try running the program I created or the other thing you can do is go to Start -> Run, type in cmd and hit enter.

Go to the directory that has the files on it (e.g. if the files were in "C:\My Mac Files", then you'd type in:
cd "C:\My Mac Files" and hit Enter).

Type in:
dir /x

once you're in the folder with the offending files.

You'll see two file names for each file, one that has a tilde in it (e.g. ._MyFil~1.doc). Once you've identified the file, you'd type in:

del ._MyFil~1.doc ...and hit Enter.

For some "illegal" file names, you have to restore to using the 8.3 format in the Command Prompt to delete them. There is nothing illegal with file names that are "._filename.doc", however if they have certain characters within the file name, that is when it becomes a problem.

Aug 31, 2006 6:50 PM in response to MacAllegro

Hi Lynette!

You apparently have Macs using a combination of AFP (using the Windows Server's File Services for Macintosh) and SMB (using the Windows Server's Windows file sharing) connecting to your server.

The Network Trash folders are part of the File Services for Macintosh and are in use by the Windows system. You shouldn't delete these yourself unless you know you've disabled File Services for Macintosh.

And while they can be annoying to Windows users, the "._filename" files are useful to your Mac OS X machines connecting to the server using its Windows file sharing. Do you have a specific reason you want to delete these files? If you don't have hidden files showing then how to do you see them and why do you want to delete them?

bill

1 GHz Powerbook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Aug 31, 2006 8:57 PM in response to mecklists

Good questions, Bill!

I need to delete them because I don't want to use those folders anymore. I am no longer backing up the same way I started years ago where each client drug files to the server into each clients personal folder. Now, I have Retrospect backing up their files on each client's computer, so don't need to "double backup," so to speak.

My Mac clients no longer need to share these folders, so I want to get rid of them, but because of the network trash folder in some and the ._files in others, I am unable to clean up the mess.

Make sense?

Lynette

Sep 1, 2006 7:30 AM in response to MacAllegro

Hi Lynette!

To get rid of the "Network Trash" folders, you should first disable or uninstall File Services for Macintosh. That should clean up those folders. If not, then the Windows system probably won't have them locked and you can delete them manually.

Your Mac clients no longer need to share files? If you're using personal file sharing among your Macs I hope you have very few of them. Moving away from centralizing everything on the server (including backups) would be backward thinking in most environments. Of course I do respect that your situation may be unique and I won't lecture. 🙂

bill

1 GHz Powerbook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Sep 1, 2006 8:19 AM in response to mecklists

Bill,

Right now, I am automatically backing up clients' Documents folder to the server, using Retrospect. Each computer—there are only 9 (Macs) of us in this regional office—runs all of our programs off of our own computer. Until we purchased Retrospect, we each had to back up files manually to the server.

There are a couple of folders we use to transfer files or save data to.

I will try and disable File Services for Macintosh. Where is that located?

Lynette

Sep 1, 2006 8:50 AM in response to Trevor Seward

Trevor or Bill,

I am trying to run the command lines suggested by Trevor. This is the path of the folder where the problem lies: cd "D:\Junk\Regional Business\DIST MTGS\District Meetings\District Meeting forms"

When I type this, I get C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator. If I continue with dir /x I get Directory of C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator

That's the wrong drive.

I'm stuck. What am I doing incorrectly?

Sep 1, 2006 9:11 AM in response to MacAllegro

Go to Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs -> Add/Remove Windows Components

Scroll down to Other Network Files and Print Services. Double click on that. Uncheck file services for Mac, hit OK, then Next and it will uninstall.

As for your other question, since it is located on a different drive letter, you have to type:

D: then Enter

That will change you to the D: drive. Then you can use the "CD" (Change Directory) command to navigate to the folder.

Sep 1, 2006 9:40 AM in response to Trevor Seward

Trevor, the error I now receive is The system cannot find the path specified.

This is the organization of the client:
D drive folder called Junk (I changed the name when trying to dump the folder). Within Junk is a folder called REGIONAL BUSINESS, within that folder is another folder called DIST MTGS, within that folder is a folder called District Meetings and within that folder is another folder called District Meeting forms (She really believes in nesting.)—The ._file is in this last folder.

Based on that, I typed: cd "D:\Junk\REGIONAL BUSINESS\DIST MTGS\District Meetings\District Meeting forms"

I've tried typing with/without caps—to no avail. Suggestions?

Sep 1, 2006 2:45 PM in response to Trevor Seward

Yea, Trevor! I'm farther than I have ever gotten. Here's the latest problem. The name of the files I want to delete are: ._Dist Mtg Guidelines and Dist Mtg Guidelines

I can see them but the message I get when I type

del ._Dist Mtg Guidelines

is: Could Not Find D:\Junk\REGIONAL BUSINESS\DIST MTGS\District Meetings\Dist Meeting forms>del ._Dist Mtg Guidelines

What now?

Deleting ._ files appearing on a windows server

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