How to delete a (seemingly) infinite folder structure?

[SomeGamer]

Somehow com.sonymobile.dlna has created a folder structure like this on my SD card:
/Android/com.sonymobile.dlna/cache/cache/cache... and it goes on.
Currently running sudo rm -rf on a live Lubuntu on my tablet, and while it's certainly doing something (fans at full speed) I'm beyond uncertain if it'll ever finish.

 

[Jacklack3]

Somehow com.sonymobile.dlna has created a folder structure like this on my SD card:
/Android/com.sonymobile.dlna/cache/cache/cache... and it goes on.
Currently running sudo rm -rf on a live Lubuntu on my tablet, and while it's certainly doing something (fans at full speed) I'm beyond uncertain if it'll ever finish.

I don't know how it is on Linux for can you check it's properties? On windows it shows how many folders a folder has.

 

[SomeGamer]

I don't know how it is on Linux for can you check it's properties? On windows it shows how many folders a folder has.

It shows an obviously smaller number than the actual count of folders. (Can't remember the exact number, but the structure is much deeper.)

 

[Jacklack3]

It shows an obviously smaller number than the actual count of folders. (Can't remember the exact number, but the structure is much deeper.)

If you go beyond the number it shows does the directory text (ex: "C:/blah/blah") go shorter? Then it could be a shortcut.

If not, try this link? https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1623594

 

[SomeGamer]

If you go beyond the number it shows does the directory text (ex: "C:/blah/blah") go shorter? Then it could be a shortcut.

I'm not on Windows ATM, will try it if no Linux solutions pop up.

If not, try this link? https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1623594

Came across that one, but thanks.

 

[Jacklack3]

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/21575188/delete-infinite-nested-directories
https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/40647/removing-infinitely-nested-directories (This is for mac however looks like it might still work for Linux, as even the OP posted it in "unix".)

Maybe try seeing the file size of the main folder?

 

[SomeGamer]

SOLVED! Simply closed the Terminal window, then deleted using the GUI file manager as a last attempt. To my great surprise, it worked, despite it previously saying that the file name was too long. But I really want to know why it worked the second time. (The rm -rf was closed in the process of deletion so it obviously hasn't finished yet.)

 

[Pleng]

SOLVED! Simply closed the Terminal window, then deleted using the GUI file manager as a last attempt. To my great surprise, it worked, despite it previously saying that the file name was too long. But I really want to know why it worked the second time. (The rm -rf was closed in the process of deletion so it obviously hasn't finished yet.)

Sounds like rm -f had deleted enough of the deepest folders in the path to enable the GUI to handle the rest... Example When you originally tried deleting from the GUI there may have been 500 folders, making the string value containing the complete path to the deepest file too long for the gui to handle. rm -f may have removed the deepest 300 entries before being interrupted, leaving only another 200 left, therefore allowing the GUI to now handle the path of the deepest file.