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Fix: 0 Byte File Does Not Exist Cannot Be Deleted

Updated on Apr 12, 2019 by Jean to Todo Backup Resource

Summary:
Windows 7/10: 0 byte file does not exist, cannot be deleted error occurs each time when you try to delete the 0 byte file. Do not worry, come in and learn how to delete undeletable 0 byte files.

Error "0 Byte Files Does Not Exist, Cannot Be Deleted"

This is the third time I found some 0 byte files on my hard drive, and I really want to know where they came. I try to delete them for several times, however, the results are annoying, saying files does not exist and cannot be deleted! Would you tell me how does this error come?

Files are locked by explorer.exe or some security issues or file bugs somehow associated with "0 bytes files cannot be deleted" error. Quite a lot of people encountered these non-existing files once they restarted Windows system and Windows Explorer shows files that once existed but don't currently exist. If you desperately want to wipe out those 0-byte files, close explorer.exe and use a command prompt to delete the undeletable files.

Backup Important Hard Drive Before Deleting 0 Byte Files

Before we teach you how to delete 0-byte files and folders, it's highly recommended to back up your very important data, especially those on the same hard drive with the problematic files, to make sure average users with a little technical background would carelessly delete the innocent items. Now do a fast full backup of the hard drive by using an easy-to-use free backup software - EaseUS Todo Backup. Here's the backup tutorial.

Step 1. To back up an entire hard disk or simply its several partitions, the best backup plan is "Disk/Partition Backup". Choose this backup mode and let's begin.

choose disk/partition backup mode

Step 2. On the popup window, choose the hard drive or partition(s) you're going to back up. A check symbol appears after you clicked the mouse.

choose the hard disk/partition you want to back up

Step 3. Click the "Browse..." button in the "Destination" area to choose a backup location. Here, you can choose any location that is available to you, such as the local hard disk, folders, Network drive, NAS device or Cloud storage, including GoogleDrive, DropBox and OneDrive. You can explore all the connected drive by clicking the icon in front of each directory.

choose a backup location

Step 4. Now edit your disk backup image by adding a "Plan name" and "Description" to it.

Do not forget the advanced backup plans in " Backup options", where you can compress the backup image, encrypt the backup for privacy protection and even enable a sector by sector backup.

choose disk/partition advanced backup options

At the same time, you can turn on the "Schedule" in order to create a hard disk/partition backup on a regular basis like daily, weekly, monthly or upon an event according to the schedule set on your own. 

set a disk/partition backup schedule

And the "Image-reserve strategy" lets you manage the increasingly growing backup images economically, you can preserve the backups in a setup time or quantity.

set a disk/partition backup image-reserve strategy

Step 5. Not all the customizable hard disk/partition backup solutions are necessary but try to make full use of the necessary ones. Finally, click "Proceed" to start at once.

For safety, disconnect the physical storage device you used as a backup drive after the backup process is over.

Delete 0 Byte Files Though Command Prompt

Again, do a backup in advance, because any improper operation with command prompt would delete the wrong files.

Step 1. Open an elevated command prompt: go to "Start" > type cmd > Right Click "cmd.exe" > "Run as Administrator"

Step 2. Leave Command prompt open and then open "Task Manager".

Step 3. End process "explorer.exe"

Step 4. Switch back to command prompt

Step 5. Change to the directory of your file and delete it.

First run this line: cd "PATH OF YOUR FILE"
i.e. cd "%USERPROFILE%"\Downloads"
Now run this line: del filename.extension
i.e. del filename.mkv

Step 6. Switch back to task manager.

Step 7. Restart "explorer.exe".