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?

• Gandi: Are you sure, that the '/' are correct? Remember, that on windows you need to use '\'.
• David Heffernan: Error 3 is path not found rather than file not found. Something's up with the path.
• amyassin: try os.path.exists('C:/Benutzer/Me/Desktop/sync.txt')

Answer 1

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.

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

Answer 2

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')

• David Heffernan: This won't be it since a / is a perfectly valid path separator on windows.
• amyassin: isn't / is platform independent??

Answer 3

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...

• glglgl: 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').

Answer 4

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