Deleted SDE Feature Class keeps reappearing after refresh (SDE 9.2)

[RandyKreuziger]

I tried to delete a SDE Feature Dataset but the delete hung.  I ended up having to kill ArcCatalog.  It was not a permissions problem.  The Feature Dataset and one of the Feature Classes are gone but the other Feature Class now shows up outside the now deleted feature dataset.  But now when I try to delete the remaining FC with ArcCatalog  it appears to work but the FC reappears after I refresh my ArcCatalog connection.  Any ideas?

[VinceAngelo]

Does the table exist in the database?

Do references to the table exist in sde.SDE_LAYERS / sde.SDE_GEOMETRY_COLUMNS /
sde.SDE_TABLE_REGISTRY / sde.SDE_COLUMN_REGISTRY ?

Does a reference to the table exist in sde.GDB_OBJECTCLASSES? Do any references
to the (former) objectclassid from gdb_objectclasses exist in any of the other GDB tables?

Technically, Tech Support should be the proper source for direction to perform otherwise
unsupported edits to geodatabase metadata, but if you are comfortable working without
their direction (and have a valid current backup), you can try to clean up the metadata
references yourself.

Be sure to use the simplest corrective means possble (e.g., if the objectclass is missing,
but SDE_* table references exist, use 'sdetable -o delete', not DROP TABLE [which would
then break the SDE registry]). I did mention having a good backup, right? Be careful
anyway, since a reflexive response of "Y" to an "Are you sure?" could cause even more
work -- thus speaks experience! 🙂

- V