cannot delete a file of unknown file type

[Guest]

In the last few days, I have noticed a file appear in my hard drive's root
folder, ie. on C:\. The properties menu states literally nothing about the
file or its origin, except its date created, June 20 of this year, which
makes no sense since the file only appeared recently; no extension is shown
either. I can assure you that I would've noticed it since June 20 by now!
It's name is "CAATUTK9." with the period at the end but without the
quotations. The file size is shown as zero bites.

Ad-Aware 1.06 Pro has not identified it as spyware or malware, and Norton
AntiVirus 2006 has not considered it a threat either. What I did find odd was
that Norton said it had scanned 2 files when I manually scanned this file,
not just the 1 file. I have also run a number of data-wiping programs, the
ones which overwrite deleted files with random 1's and 0's.

Moving it to the recycle bin or any other location for that matter gives me
the error: "cannot read from the source file or disk". Interestingly, I can
make a copy of it to anywhere else, also with the same lack of details in the
properties menu as the original file. But when I do make a copy, the period
at the end of the file name is not included, even if the copy is in another
folder.

Is this a new worm or virus of some kind? My virus and spyware definitions
are up to date and I am using XP Pro SP2, fully patched.

 

[S.Sengupta]

see:-
How do I delete an "undeletable" file?
http://www.petri.co.il/delete_undeletable_files.htm

also:-
http://www.theeldergeek.com/delete_undeletable_file.htm

regards,
S.Sengupta[MS-MVP]

 

[Plato]

In the last few days, I have noticed a file appear in my hard drive's root
folder, ie. on C:\. The properties menu states literally nothing about the

http://www.bootdisk.com/xptop20.htm#8

 

[Guest]

Thank you for your suggestions however none have worked. When I close
Explorer and try to delete the file from the command prompt, I am told that
the path cannot be found, even though I followed the instructions exactly.

Also, none of the programs available from the link you posted, Plato, are
able to do anything about it. They also give me the error that no specific
file or folder was found.

I'm not sure if the period at the end of the name makes Windows expect an
extension to be attached, yet none is.

Anything else that I can try? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Guest]

I spoke too soon! haha, it seems that the link from the bootdisk.com website
provided by Plato to kellys-korner-xp.com did the trick! After trying to
delete the file with the other method I previously mentioned, I made a
subfolder on C:\ and then removed it using the command: RD /S <folder name>.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions and happy computing These support
forums are great!

Delta_J

 

[Guest]

Just follow up information if anyone else gets stuck.

The suspect file(s) that are genuinely created named "AnyOldFilename."
Created using 'save as' dialogs in Outlook Express and Internet Explorer on
WinXP

The file can not be accessed in any boot mode or even from CD boot disk
command prompt. tried 'chkdsk' many times with disk surface scan...

Won't Rename, Delete, Move, Copy, Open, Attrib, over write etc.
Stuck with a 0 byte file.
Deleting gives the OS error dialog
"Cannot delete file: Cannot read from the source file or disk"

Changing the file properties gives only 2 tick boxes (Read-Only and hidden),
both unticked and if I change any and apply I get the following OS message:
"An Error occurred applying attributes to the file: The system cannot find
teh file specified"

This is no ordinary system or hidden or in use file.
This looks like a fully reproducible OS file system bug.

NOW THE FIX!!!

http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/unlocker1.7.6.exe
referenced here http://www.bootdisk.com/utility.htm

During installation be sure to tick the 'Send to' option tick box for shell
embeded.

Right click the suspect file and 'Send to->Unlocker'
Wait a while while Unlocker checks for s/w updates...
Eventually Unlocker returns a dialog,
drop the list from 'no action' to 'delete'...
HOOOOORAY!!!! file has gone!