Steam BackUp feature is creating corrupted, undeletable folders

[ρσѕт-мόδεгп ㋛]

I'm having a problem with a couple of games I recently backed up with the Steam BackUp feature, which I haven't encountered before. The back up dialog states it completed, but it creates empty folders that can't be opened, because it 'can't find file'. Unlike my previous backups, these won't delete.

Any official help would be appreciated to solve this problem.

[ρσѕт-мόδεгп ㋛]

@Fred:
I tried your method, but was given the error "Could Not Find J:\Steam Storage\Q.U.B.E."
My backups are on my external drive, but I was able to reach the folders fine.

[ρσѕт-мόδεгп ㋛]

@Fred:
I reset my computer multiple times, and am still left with "Could not find this item" messages. In my recent restart, I thought I managed to delete one of the problematic folders, but it ended up reappearing.

[ρσѕт-мόδεгп ㋛]

Still no luck. Could the Steam BackUp program be making indexes of the broken backups?

[Fandango]

That happens because since you probably created a backup with lots of games, the filename of the folder turned out to be too big, exceeding the 255 characters limit, making it uneditable.

To fix this, you need to rename your folder with either CMD or DelinvFile (This one worked for me) to a shorter name.

Steam should fix this on the next patch because it IS really annoying, hope that fixed it!

[Spore Cloud]

Just had this problem and I'd like to post what worked for me.

Like Dooks said you must rename the file. I used the command prompt and went to c:\program files (86)\backups and from that directory I used the dir /x command to show me a shortened version of the folder name, from there i used the command rename judged~1 1 (to rename the judged~1 folder to 1) and everything was peachy from there and you should be able to delete the folder normally.

[Commander 6]

I'm having the same problem except it's already giving the prompt of C:\Users\"my computers name". I am using windows 8. Does that make the command prompt for me different? If not can someone give me a full explanation of what to do. I am not familiar to programming and code language so please try to explain in full detail and in the simplest way possible.

[chris]

I am having somewhat of a similar problem. On my steam account, it has Dota 2 and Dota 2 Test. They do not have a delete option on them. Even when I installed and uninstalled them, I couldn't delete them. They remained on my account. Anybody that knows what's going on please help me.

[Fandango]

You can't delete games off your library, once you redeem a code or purchase a game, they're linked to your account forever.

[Commander 6]

Originalmente postado por Mourning Wood:

I am having somewhat of a similar problem. On my steam account, it has Dota 2 and Dota 2 Test. They do not have a delete option on them. Even when I installed and uninstalled them, I couldn't delete them. They remained on my account. Anybody that knows what's going on please help me.

If you are referring to having Dota 2 and Dota 2 Test in your library when you thought you were only getting Dota 2 do not worry. Getting extra things like that with your game is not uncommon. When I got the complete collection for Grand Theft Auto I also encountered such an event. For GTA III, Vice City, and San Andreas there were copies of them in my library which did nothing except provide news about the games. I couldn't even get the option to click play on them; It would only work on the other one in my library. Also with Rising Storm and Red Orchestra 2, they came included with betas for them which was not mentioned that I would be getting them. There is no problem with the fact that you got Dota 2 Test with Dota 2. If it just bothers you to see it in your library I suggest just choosing to view your library with installed games rather than all games, and of course just don't install Dota 2 Test if you do. :P

[Tazeps]

Originalmente postado por Spore Cloud:

Just had this problem and I'd like to post what worked for me.

Like Dooks said you must rename the file. I used the command prompt and went to c:\program files (86)\backups and from that directory I used the dir /x command to show me a shortened version of the folder name, from there i used the command rename judged~1 1 (to rename the judged~1 folder to 1) and everything was peachy from there and you should be able to delete the folder normally.

I have the same problem.......I tried that but the command "dir /x" isn't making the name shorter for me it just lists out stuff there with the unwanted folder's name unchanged

I'm using windows 8.1

[Aldaron]

Originalmente postado por themlw:

Originalmente postado por Spore Cloud:

Just had this problem and I'd like to post what worked for me.

Like Dooks said you must rename the file. I used the command prompt and went to c:\program files (86)\backups and from that directory I used the dir /x command to show me a shortened version of the folder name, from there i used the command rename judged~1 1 (to rename the judged~1 folder to 1) and everything was peachy from there and you should be able to delete the folder normally.

I have the same problem.......I tried that but the command "dir /x" isn't making the name shorter for me it just lists out stuff there with the unwanted folder's name unchanged

I'm using windows 8.1

The dir command does not change the name of files or folders. It only lists files and folders in the current folder you are in. The /X switch displays a shorter name you can use to interact with the file or folder if the current name does not follow the 8.3 file name format (8 or less characters in the name followed by a period then three letters for the file extension). Sometimes problems can arise if a file or folder does now follow the 8.3 file name format, especially on older operating systems.

To rename a folder you need to type rename <original name> <new name>.

If you had a file named titan.sim.vol, you might run into problems when you try to play around with it. Using dir /X would show you the shorter name of TITANS~1.VOL you could use instead.

[Tazeps]

Originalmente postado por Aldaron:

Originalmente postado por themlw:

I have the same problem.......I tried that but the command "dir /x" isn't making the name shorter for me it just lists out stuff there with the unwanted folder's name unchanged

I'm using windows 8.1

The dir command does not change the name of files or folders. It only lists files and folders in the current folder you are in. The /X switch displays a shorter name you can use to interact with the file or folder if the current name does not follow the 8.3 file name format (8 or less characters in the name followed by a period then three letters for the file extension). Sometimes problems can arise if a file or folder does now follow the 8.3 file name format, especially on older operating systems.

To rename a folder you need to type rename <original name> <new name>.

If you had a file named titan.sim.vol, you might run into problems when you try to play around with it. Using dir /X would show you the shorter name of TITANS~1.VOL you could use instead.

Actually yeah I meant it didn't "show" me the shortened version of the file name. Still shows it with the original name in the generated file/dolder list.

Sorry should have been clearer

[Commander 6]

Originalmente postado por themlw:

Originalmente postado por Spore Cloud:

Just had this problem and I'd like to post what worked for me.

Like Dooks said you must rename the file. I used the command prompt and went to c:\program files (86)\backups and from that directory I used the dir /x command to show me a shortened version of the folder name, from there i used the command rename judged~1 1 (to rename the judged~1 folder to 1) and everything was peachy from there and you should be able to delete the folder normally.

I have the same problem.......I tried that but the command "dir /x" isn't making the name shorter for me it just lists out stuff there with the unwanted folder's name unchanged

I'm using windows 8.1

First you need to find the file using your file explorer. Once you find it you are going to use what is in the drop box. In an example it will read c:\program files (86)\backups. It doesn't necessarily mean that your backup file would be there, it will be wherever you chose to have had it saved at. Once you know where your file is located, you are going to open a command prompt. You can open a command prompt either by using, on your keyboard, 'windows key + x' and clicking on command prompt, or by going to the start menu, clicking on the down arrow and scrolling till you find command prompt, which is usually under windows system. In the command prompt you are going to need to type 'cd', without the quotation marks, followed by what was in the drop box, like in the example.

In full, the example will be written out as the following:
cd c:\program files (86)\backups

After that you should type dir /x

From there it will show you all the shortened names of all files under the backups folder. Now the thing is that the results will usually show only the first 6 letters, without spaces, of the file; so if your file began with: call of duty ghosts, it will commonly only show callof~1 as a result. In rare cases, such as with me if I recall correctly, my file began with Empire Total Wa... but when I used the dir /x command it only showed empire, as opposed to empire~1, like I thought it would. So now if you want to rename the file to 'hello', for example, you just simply type, using my common and rare examples:

rename callof~1 hello

OR:

rename empire hello

After that you should be able to delete it as normal .Hope this helped!!

[Tazeps]

Yep that's the same process I've been following. The command "dir /x" doesn't seem to work for some reason. it shows me the full name instead. I even have CMD run in elevated mode.

I think I'll just format the drive to get rid of it. Luckily the drive is new and is pretty much empty.

my computer's always been the rebellious type :P I assume it would work with other people.

Thanks alot for the help guys I'll pass on the method when I see other people with the same problem.

[«Gғм» Kid Of The Century]

AFAIK this happens when the Backup's name ends with a dot (examples are Q.U.B.E. and B.U.T.T.O.N.).
I do what Spore Cloud said and it works.

Originalmente postado por themlw:

Originalmente postado por Spore Cloud:

Just had this problem and I'd like to post what worked for me.

Like Dooks said you must rename the file. I used the command prompt and went to c:\program files (86)\backups and from that directory I used the dir /x command to show me a shortened version of the folder name, from there i used the command rename judged~1 1 (to rename the judged~1 folder to 1) and everything was peachy from there and you should be able to delete the folder normally.

I have the same problem.......I tried that but the command "dir /x" isn't making the name shorter for me it just lists out stuff there with the unwanted folder's name unchanged

I'm using windows 8.1

I don't have a Win8.1 to try out, could you post a couple screenshots of your dir /x command to see what you're seeing?