WAD Strange output from DEL of a non-existent directory

[Steve Pitts]

Folks,

TCC 17.00.70 x64 Windows 7 [Version 6.1.7601]

This one has me completely confused. I'm in the throes of testing a new NAS box and I've just knocked up a batch file to perform a set of copy tests. The first thing it does before starting the copies is to remove all existing output from the target directory and then recreate it. However, the first time I ran it, I got this output (the L, M and Z partitions are all mapped to different shares on the NAS whereas the D is a local disk and probably did actually have a test\in already, the input commands are in bold (but as echoed by the batch processor, so yes I have an alias for del, it adds the /l switch):

del /l /x /z /s /q /y d:\test\in
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [6] There are no more files.
"D:\test\in\*"
md d:\test\in
del /l /x /z /s /q /y l:\test\in
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The system cannot find the file specified.
"L:\test\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The system cannot find the file specified.
"L:\test\out\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The system cannot find the file specified.
"L:\test\out\big_20GB\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The directory is not empty.
"L:\test\out\big_20GB"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The system cannot find the file specified.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The system cannot find the file specified.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The system cannot find the file specified.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\4dos\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The directory is not empty.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\4dos"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The system cannot find the file specified.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\barbierc\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The system cannot find the file specified.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\barbierc\Program\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The directory is not empty.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\barbierc\Program"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The system cannot find the file specified.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\barbierc\Resources\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The system cannot find the file specified.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\barbierc\Resources\DesktopHorse\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The directory is not empty.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\barbierc\Resources\DesktopHorse"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The system cannot find the file specified.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\barbierc\Resources\Photos\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The directory is not empty.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\barbierc\Resources\Photos"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The system cannot find the file specified.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\barbierc\Resources\Prefs\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The directory is not empty.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\barbierc\Resources\Prefs"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The system cannot find the file specified.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\barbierc\Resources\Saved Games\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The directory is not empty.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\barbierc\Resources\Saved Games"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The directory is not empty.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\barbierc\Resources"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The directory is not empty.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\barbierc"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The system cannot find the file specified.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\CDs\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The directory is not empty.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\CDs"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The system cannot find the file specified.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\jpbeta\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The directory is not empty.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\jpbeta"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The system cannot find the file specified.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\keditw\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The directory is not empty.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\keditw"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The system cannot find the file specified.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\menolly\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The system cannot find the file specified.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\menolly\docs\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The directory is not empty.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\menolly\docs"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The system cannot find the file specified.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\menolly\games\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The system cannot find the file specified.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\menolly\games\lr2\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The directory is not empty.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\menolly\games\lr2"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The directory is not empty.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\menolly\games"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The directory is not empty.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\menolly"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The system cannot find the file specified.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\takecmd\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The directory is not empty.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\takecmd"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The system cannot find the file specified.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\Tidy95\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The directory is not empty.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\Tidy95"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The directory is not empty.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The system cannot find the file specified.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\Badgers\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The directory is not empty.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\Badgers"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The system cannot find the file specified.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\Data\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The directory is not empty.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\Data"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The system cannot find the file specified.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\DiskImgs\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The directory is not empty.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\DiskImgs"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The system cannot find the file specified.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\Games\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The directory is not empty.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\Games"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The system cannot find the file specified.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\Junk Bucket\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The system cannot find the file specified.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\Junk Bucket\PowerReg\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The directory is not empty.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\Junk Bucket\PowerReg"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The directory is not empty.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\Junk Bucket"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The system cannot find the file specified.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\Registry\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The directory is not empty.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups\Registry"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The directory is not empty.
"L:\test\out\newpii_backups"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The system cannot find the file specified.
"L:\test\out\Small_20GB\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The directory is not empty.
"L:\test\out\Small_20GB"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The directory is not empty.
"L:\test\out"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [8] The directory is not empty.
"L:\test"
md l:\test\in
del /l /x /z /s /q /y m:\test\in
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\out\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\out\big_20GB\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The directory is not empty.
"M:\test\out\big_20GB"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\4dos\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The directory is not empty.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\4dos"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\barbierc\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\barbierc\Program\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The directory is not empty.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\barbierc\Program"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\barbierc\Resources\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\barbierc\Resources\DesktopHorse\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The directory is not empty.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\barbierc\Resources\DesktopHorse"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\barbierc\Resources\Photos\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The directory is not empty.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\barbierc\Resources\Photos"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\barbierc\Resources\Prefs\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The directory is not empty.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\barbierc\Resources\Prefs"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\barbierc\Resources\Saved Games\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The directory is not empty.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\barbierc\Resources\Saved Games"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The directory is not empty.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\barbierc\Resources"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The directory is not empty.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\barbierc"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\CDs\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The directory is not empty.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\CDs"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\jpbeta\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The directory is not empty.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\jpbeta"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\keditw\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The directory is not empty.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\keditw"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\menolly\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\menolly\docs\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The directory is not empty.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\menolly\docs"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\menolly\games\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\menolly\games\lr2\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The directory is not empty.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\menolly\games\lr2"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The directory is not empty.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\menolly\games"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The directory is not empty.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\menolly"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\takecmd\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The directory is not empty.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\takecmd"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\Tidy95\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The directory is not empty.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups\Tidy95"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The directory is not empty.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\athlon_backups"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\Badgers\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The directory is not empty.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\Badgers"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\Data\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The directory is not empty.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\Data"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\DiskImgs\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The directory is not empty.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\DiskImgs"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\Games\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The directory is not empty.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\Games"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\Junk Bucket\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\Junk Bucket\PowerReg\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The directory is not empty.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\Junk Bucket\PowerReg"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The directory is not empty.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\Junk Bucket"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\Registry\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The directory is not empty.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups\Registry"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The directory is not empty.
"M:\test\out\newpii_backups"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\out\Small_20GB\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The directory is not empty.
"M:\test\out\Small_20GB"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The directory is not empty.
"M:\test\out"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The directory is not empty.
"M:\test"
md m:\test\in
timer on

It looks like the del, having not found the in directory within test is then working its way through the out subdirectory of test, which does exist and has a structure beneath it, trying to add an in subdirectory to each one. Fortunately, it does not appear to have actually deleted any files within that structure, best as I can tell, so this appears to be cosmetic but worrying.

 

[vefatica]

I think they're pretty normal error messages, triggered when WIN32 functions fail. The option "/e" should suppress them.

v:\> md test\in

v:\> del /l /x /z /s /q /y v:\test\in
TCC: (Sys) There are no more files.
 "V:\test\in\*"

v:\> md test\in

v:\> del /l /x /z /s /q /y /e v:\test\in

v:\>

 

[Steve Pitts]

I think they're pretty normal error messages, triggered when WIN32 functions fail. The option "/e" should suppress them

Agreed, the message you get is normal, but that is not all I'm seeing (and I don't want to suppress the message about the directory not existing).

Upon reflection my first post, which was produced in a rush before leaving for work this morning, was not of the best. So perhaps the following offers a better example of what I'm seeing:

D:\Users\Steve\AppData\Local\JPSoft>tree g:\test\

G:\test\
├──in
└──out
   ├──Big_20GB
   └──Small_20GB

D:\Users\Steve\AppData\Local\JPSoft>del /s /x /z g:\test\in
G:\test\in\* : Are you sure (Y/N)? Y
TCC: (Sys) There are no more files.
"G:\test\in\*"
Removing G:\test\in\
0 files deleted

D:\Users\Steve\AppData\Local\JPSoft>del /s /x /z g:\test\in
TCC: (Sys) The system cannot find the file specified.
"G:\test\in"
TCC: (Sys) The system cannot find the file specified.
"G:\test\out\in"
TCC: (Sys) The system cannot find the file specified.
"G:\test\out\Big_20GB\in"
TCC: (Sys) The directory is not empty.
"G:\test\out\Big_20GB"
TCC: (Sys) The system cannot find the file specified.
"G:\test\out\Small_20GB\in"
TCC: (Sys) The directory is not empty.
"G:\test\out\Small_20GB"
TCC: (Sys) The directory is not empty.
"G:\test\out"
TCC: (Sys) The directory is not empty.
"G:\test"
0 files deleted

D:\Users\Steve\AppData\Local\JPSoft>

I then had a brainstorm and wondered whether adding the closing \ to indicate that I'm expecting this to be a directory (which I am) would fix it, and it does (sort of):

D:\Users\Steve\AppData\Local\JPSoft>del /s /x /z g:\test\in\
TCC: (Sys) The system cannot find the path specified.
"G:\test\in\"
TCC: (Sys) The system cannot find the file specified.
"G:\test\in"
0 files deleted

D:\Users\Steve\AppData\Local\JPSoft>

I think that example makes it more obvious what is going on in the first example in that 'in' could be a directory within test or a file, and it is the search for the latter (which I don't want) which is causing the error messages. I think the second message in the second example is spurious, but it at least gives me a reasonable solution.

FWIW I cannot find any way to change this from a BUG but I'm sure Rex will downgrade it to WAD soon enough ;)

 

[JohnQSmith]

I think they're pretty normal error messages, triggered when WIN32 functions fail.

How can they be normal errors when at no time was the "M:\test\out" directory referenced in the command?

del /l /x /z /s /q /y m:\test\in
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\out\in"
TCC: (Sys) C:\Program Files\bat\thecus_test_pass.btm [10] The system cannot find the file specified.
"M:\test\out\big_20GB\in"

 

[Steve Pitts]

Sorry John, I edited my post after you'd replied, but I think the second example makes it apparent that in the first example Take Command has to search the whole of test for a file or directory named in not just the directory that isn't there.

 

[vefatica]

How can they be normal errors when at no time was the "M:\test\out" directory referenced in the command?

He asked TCC to look in m:\test and subdirectories and delete things named "in". So it looks for "in" in every directory in the tree.

I never appreciated all the "file not found" messages that TCC can produce but some folks might. Especially with "/S", unless a target is found in every subdirectory, you're going to get error messages. I just tried to delete *.tmp on a whole drive ... 6 files deleted and about 700 error messages! Sure, I can suppress them with "/E", But what if I want to see the meaningful ones like "the file is in use by another process"?

 

[vefatica]

(continuing my last paragraph) ... the messages that tell me the command couldn't do what I wanted it to do. Maybe suppressing "file not found" messages should have its own switch.

 

[rconn]

WAD - if you don't have a trailing \, TCC has to assume you're deleting files. If you want to delete directories, you should use RD /S.