WIN XP Cannot delete empty directory

Rather irritating little XP bug solved as follows:

in DOS (nope, it ain't gone, no matter what m$ wants you to think)
navigate to the directory containing the recalcitrant directory
type

dir /x

this will give you the 8 char name for the directory that isn't cooperating

type

rd 8chrn~1

where 8chrn~1 is of course the actual 8 char name

Viola. Yep, windows is stupid.