This is a simple function that uses pinvoke and PowerShell to remove a file that is buried in a folder structure in the file system that would normally cause an error about the path being too long. You can simply supply the full path and file to the function and it will be removed. This is a work in progress function that I hope to expand on in the future to do do more than just delete a file as it cannot delete a folder currently.

This function is featured the following Hey, Scripting Guy! article: http://blogs.technet.com/b/heyscriptingguy/archive/2015/12/27/weekend-scripter-remove-a-long-path-file.aspx

Updated January 7, 2016: This is now Remove-Item2 and fully supports removing directories (including child files/folders) and files.

Remember to dot source this script to load the function into the current session.

. .\Remove-Item2.ps1

. .\Remove-Item2.ps1

Help Examples:

    <#
        .SYNOPSIS
            Gets the files and folders in a file system drive beyond the 256 character limitation

        .DESCRIPTION
            Gets the files and folders in a file system drive beyond the 256 character limitation

        .PARAMETER Fullname
            Path to a folder/file

        .NOTES
            Name: Remove-Item2
            Author: Boe Prox
            Version History:
                1.0 //Boe Prox
                    - Initial version

        .EXAMPLE
            Remove-Item2 -Fullname C:\SomeLongPath

            Description
            -----------
            Removes SomeLongPath and all of its children
    #>

    <# 
        .SYNOPSIS 
            Gets the files and folders in a file system drive beyond the 256 character limitation 
 
        .DESCRIPTION 
            Gets the files and folders in a file system drive beyond the 256 character limitation 
 
        .PARAMETER Fullname 
            Path to a folder/file 
 
        .NOTES 
            Name: Remove-Item2 
            Author: Boe Prox 
            Version History: 
                1.0 //Boe Prox 
                    - Initial version 
 
        .EXAMPLE 
            Remove-Item2 -Fullname C:\SomeLongPath 
 
            Description 
            ----------- 
            Removes SomeLongPath and all of its children 
    #>