How to delete view-private read-only folders owned by Nobody on Windows-clearcase?

Question

Say I've a user that copied a checked in version folder tree using ClearCase Explorer to create a view-private folder tree. Now he wants to delete it and is not allowed to delete it.

All the files and folders in the copy are owned by Nobody (S-1-1-0) and have the read-only bit set. The files could be deleted by manually going into the properties of each file and removing the read-only bit. Then the files could be deleted.

The folders are another matter. They, so far, cannot be deleted. Both as the user and as the VOB owner we've gone into the folder properties and removed the check in the read-only box and closed the properties. Reopening the properties has the read-9only check restored.

I've gone to the command prompt and used the attrib command as "attrib -r /d folder" or "attrib -r /d /s folder" or "attrib -r -a -s -h -I /d /s folder". In all cases I get "Access Denied - folder.

I've told the user that removing the view will get rid of the folders. He insists that is not possible due to other content in the view. I've suggested that they get the "other" work done and then delete the view.

So while I convince the user to just remove the view, does anyone know how to successfully delete the folder?

Answer 1

I guess this is in a dynamic view? It could be that some process on the client or the view server has an open handle to the files, or the files are misprotected on the view server.

I would close all open applications on the client, stop the view server process and use fixprot to reprotect the view storage files. If this fails and the files interfere with other work to be done in the view, I would simply create a new view and copy over all pending changes.

If it's a snapshot view and thus an ordinary Windows file system issue, I would first be sure to elevate to Administrator level before running the attrib commands. If this fails, I would instead try the more powerful cacls/icacls commands to change the ownership and permission of the files.