Windows 10 – How to delete “The handle is invalid” folders

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So you’ve managed to create a folder a folder which Windows doesn’t support?

Leaving you with a folder you can’t open, edit or delete.

These include:

  • CON
  • PRN
  • AUX
  • NUL
  • COM1
  • COM2
  • COM3
  • COM4
  • COM5
  • COM6
  • COM7
  • COM8
  • COM9
  • LPT1
  • LPT2
  • LPT3
  • LPT4
  • LPT5
  • LPT6
  • LPT7
  • LPT8
  • LPT9

To delete these you will need to use the Command Prompt.

  1. Click on the Windows start button and type “command prompt” click on it when it appears
  3. Type in the following command – replacing the path with the path to your folder
  4. NOTE: this command will remove the folder and its content.
  5. rd C:\Users\UserName\Desktop\Con\ /q /s
  7. The folder will now be gone.