Python delete file, invalid path

Question

I want to delete a file located on my desktop:

os.remove('C:/Benutzer/Me/Desktop/sync.txt')

But I get

[Error 3] System cannot find the path

However the file does exist in the given location. I can copy the path and paste into explorer. This will open the file.

Where is the problem?

Are you sure, that the '/' are correct? Remember, that on windows you need to use '\'. — Gandi
– Gandi, Commented Sep 7, 2011 at 11:06
Error 3 is path not found rather than file not found. Something's up with the path. — David Heffernan
– David Heffernan, Commented Sep 7, 2011 at 11:09

glglgl · Accepted Answer · 2011-09-07 11:40:14Z

4

I suppose you are on Vista or 7? Then be aware of the UI to do quite a lot of localization.

Probably the path is really C:\Users\..., with the localization to Benutzer happening in the UI.

answered Sep 7, 2011 at 11:40

glglgl

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1 Comment

joel goldstick Over a year ago

This looks like the correct answer. I googled and found this: link

etuardu · Accepted Answer · 2011-09-07 11:14:58Z

3

Try using backslashes instead of slashes, i.e. 'C:\Benutzer\Me\Desktop\sync.txt' (dos/windows style paths). To avoid the backslashes from being treated as escaping character use a raw string:

os.remove(r'C:\Benutzer\Me\Desktop\sync.txt')

edited Sep 7, 2011 at 11:14

answered Sep 7, 2011 at 11:05

etuardu

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2 Comments

David Heffernan Over a year ago

This won't be it since a / is a perfectly valid path separator on windows.

amyassin Over a year ago

isn't / is platform independent??

Aamir Rind · Accepted Answer · 2011-09-07 12:59:34Z

1

Are you sure the directory path is correct, if slashes causing problem (dont have to be) try this:

import os
filePath = 'C:' + os.path.sep + 'Benutzer' + os.path.sep + 'Me' + os.path.sep + 'Desktop' + os.path.sep + 'sync.txt'
os.remove(filePath)

the advantage of using os.path.sep here is that now you dont have to worry whether you are on linux or windows or whatever...

answered Sep 7, 2011 at 12:59

Aamir Rind

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1 Comment

glglgl Over a year ago

Your are principially right, but this solution looks ugly. A semantically equivalent, but better solution is filePath = os.path.join('C:', 'Benutzer', 'Me', 'Desktop', 'sync.txt').

joel goldstick · Accepted Answer · 2011-09-07 12:30:07Z

0

This looks like the correct answer. I googled and found this: link

Folder name (and path) in Windows XP Documents and Settings (C:\Documents and Settings)

In Vista and 7 it is moved to c:\Users

answered Sep 7, 2011 at 12:30

joel goldstick

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