My WD TV Live SMP has created a file on one of my portable HDDs that has an invalid file name. I have tried a number of ways to rename and/or delete the file; including Windows Explorer, Bulk Rename Utility, and cmd.
None of them work - they all return messages to the effect that the file has an invalid name…
The file in question is:
flixster_lookup_cache_M*A*S*H_1970
It has no extension.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can delete this file?
If only it were that simple but, alas, right click and delete does not work. I had already tried that a number of times on more than one PC (both using Windows 7 if that has any bearing on things). It returns the invalid file name error every time.
The file can’t/won’t come back again because my SMP can no longer connect to the internet (I generate all my metadata myself, so I don’t need an internet connection unless updating firmware) - that’ll teach it to create stupid files on my HDD!
I know it’s technically only a small thing, but it is still driving me bananas…
Hi, it’s the asterisks causing the problem as Windows doesn’t allow them in file names, but Linux does :wink:
I have a similar scenario where a PVR of mine records shows onto a thumb drive that sometimes have a colon : in the name. When I try to transfer the file to windows, it won’t let me saying file invalid. What I have to do when that happens is load up my bootable copy of Linux on CD and plug in the thumb drive. Linux allows me to rename the file to remove the colon, then the file plays ok. You could use Linux to delete the file from your portable HDD. A drastic step I know, but if you are that desperate to delete the file then it will work if you can get your hands on Linux.
I do know that it’s the ’ *’ causing the issue - my problem is rectifying it…
JoeySmyth - yes I ran cmd as Administrator, though I didn’t right click - I just hit CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER. It still said Administrator in the program window and the warning came up asking if I wanted to allow the program to make changes, so I assume it’s just an alternative way to skin the same cat…
Just for the sake of it I connected the HDD to the WD, deleted the media library and let it rebuild - it didn’t delete the file…
Nah, I don’t want to delete the file, I just want to remove the : character so I can play the file and Linux does that. Glad you got your file deleted though.
In regard to how it managed to create a file with M*A*S*H in it and not MASH, the only thing I could offer as an explanation is that it somehow referenced either th
MASH (1970).xml
or
MASH (1970).nfo
files for the movie, both of which nominate the movie title as M*A*S*H (that is what displays on the screen on my WD)…