Article

Nul File Deleter

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DeleteNul is a Windows desktop application that supports dragging and dropping files onto the window for permanent deletion (bypassing the Recycle Bin). It especially supports deleting Windows reserved filenames (such as nul, con, aux, etc.).

Features

  • Drag-and-Drop Deletion - Drag files to any area of the window to add them to the deletion list
  • Click to Select - Click the drop zone to open the file selection dialog
  • Permanent Deletion - Files are directly and permanently deleted without going to the Recycle Bin
  • Special Filename Support - Can delete Windows reserved filenames such as nul, con, aux, prn, com1-9, lpt1-9, etc.

Download Link

v0.0.1 Installer

Usage Instructions

1. Launch the Application

Double-click the desktop icon or the DeleteNul entry in the Start menu to launch the application.

2. Add Files

There are two ways to add files for deletion:

  • Drag-and-Drop: Drag files to any area of the window
  • Click: Click the drop zone to open the file selection dialog

3. Delete Files

Added files will be displayed in the list. Click the "Permanently Delete Selected Files" button to execute the deletion.

4. Delete Special Filenames (e.g., nul)

Windows has some reserved device names. Under normal circumstances, files with these names cannot be created or deleted:

  • NUL, CON, PRN, AUX
  • COM1 - COM9
  • LPT1 - LPT9

This tool uses the Windows \\?\ prefix path to bypass this limitation, allowing deletion of such special files.

Test Method:

  1. Create a folder named nul (without extension) in a directory
  2. Drag this folder to the DeleteNul window
  3. Click the "Permanently Delete Selected Files" button to complete the deletion

Technical Implementation

  • Frontend: TypeScript + Vite
  • Backend: Rust + Tauri 2
  • Special File Handling: Uses Windows API DeleteFileW and \\?\ prefix path

Important Notes

⚠️ Warning: Deleted files cannot be recovered and will not go to the Recycle Bin! Please proceed with caution!

Changelog

v0.0.1 (2026-03-12)

  • Initial release
  • Supports drag-and-drop file deletion
  • Supports deleting Windows reserved filenames