When you run the rd command in Command Prompt to delete a folder on Windows 11, you may see the error “The directory is not empty” even though the folder appears empty. This error often occurs because the Recycle Bin contains corrupted metadata or references that block the deletion of a folder. The Recycle Bin … Read more
You need to verify which users or groups have access to a specific folder on Windows 11. The built-in Security tab shows permissions, but it does not list effective access for every account in one view. This is where AccessChk from Microsoft Sysinternals fills the gap. This article explains how to download, run, and interpret … Read more
When you copy a file on Windows 11, most users expect only the visible content to move. But hidden metadata known as Alternate Data Streams or ADS often travels with the file without any warning. This happens because ADS are a core part of the NTFS file system and are designed to be transparent during … Read more
When you save files on a FAT32 drive in Windows 11, the file’s modify time may lose sub-second accuracy. This means the timestamp shows only whole seconds instead of fractions like 10:15:30.123. The issue occurs because the FAT32 file system does not natively support high-precision timestamps, and Windows 11 applies a default rounding behavior that … Read more
Windows 11 includes a built-in tool for creating compressed ZIP folders. However, the standard ZIP encryption method used by Windows is weak. It relies on the older ZipCrypto algorithm, which is not secure against modern attacks. This article explains how to force AES-256 encryption for ZIP files on Windows 11 using third-party tools. Key Takeaways: … Read more
You may have tried to compress a file or folder in Windows 11 only to see an error stating the operation cannot be performed because the item is encrypted. Or you might have attempted to encrypt a compressed file and received a similar failure. This conflict occurs because NTFS, the default file system in Windows … Read more
When you download a file from the internet, Windows 11 adds a hidden tag called the Mark of the Web. This tag tells security features like Microsoft Defender SmartScreen to block or warn about the file. Even after you mark the source as trusted in Windows 11 settings, the Mark of the Web can remain … Read more
File Explorer search stops returning results or returns outdated files on Windows 11. This happens when the search index becomes corrupted or outdated. Rebuilding the index normally removes all indexed locations, forcing you to re-add them manually. This article explains how to rebuild the search index while keeping your custom indexed locations intact. Key Takeaways: … Read more
After a feature update on Windows 11, you may notice that the classic right-click menu no longer appears. Instead, the new compact context menu shows only a few basic options and hides the full menu under “Show more options.” This change occurs because Windows 11 feature updates reset certain registry settings that control which context … Read more
When you compare the folder or file size shown by TreeSize with the size shown in Windows 11 Disk Properties, you often see a discrepancy. This difference can be several megabytes or even gigabytes, which creates confusion about which tool is accurate. The mismatch typically occurs because TreeSize and Windows Explorer count files in fundamentally … Read more