Cannot Delete File

[RayM]

I have a folder in "Start Menu\Programs\" which I am not able to delete. The
error says "Cannot delete file: Cannot read from the source file or disk".
Is there any other ways that I can get rid of the folder? I am running
Windows XP Pro SP1.
Any advice will be very much appreaciated.

 

[roger]

Hi Ray,

I have a folder in "Start Menu\Programs\" which I am not able to delete. The
error says "Cannot delete file: Cannot read from the source file or disk".
Is there any other ways that I can get rid of the folder? I am running
Windows XP Pro SP1.
Any advice will be very much appreaciated.

Try to boot in safe mode (F8) and delete it from there.

Or open a command prompt (Start > Run > cmd) change directories using
the command cd until you get to the parent directory.

Open task manager (Ctrl + Alt +Del) and kill explorer.exe from there.

In the command prompt type:

rd name_of_folder /s

In Task manager, open a new task --> explorer.exe

Good luck

 

[RayM]

Hi Roger,

Thanks for the advice but it doesn't work. The error says "The system cannot
find the specified file."

 

[RayM]

Have tried numerous methods and utilities by to no avail. This leave me with
no choice but to reformat the hard drive.

 

[WinGuy]

Hi, Ray. Right-click that bothersome item and note all its Properties. Tell
us what all the properties are set to for it, and be detailed. Also, since
you have Pro, make sure your account has sufficient privileges for that
particular folder (which is just a file, check it's Security tab under its
Properties - you can do this from Windows Explorer, too, but make sure
Explorer is configured to show ALL files, including hidden and system ones,
and hide them again when you're done).

 

[RayM]

Hi WinGuy,

I have administrator's privilege and I'm pretty it has nothing to do with
the file or folder properties. Since, the hard drive has been reformatted I
guess we would just have to forget about it. May be this is just another
shortcoming of the Windows OS which is just inexplicable.

 

[WinGuy]

Ok, RayM. So you took the sledge hammer approach already.

The system itself has rights that supercede that of an administrator. For
example, some system files can not be deleted even by an administrator, a
file in use can not be deleted by an administrator, etc. A file can have
security properties that forbid an administrator from using it, in which
case the administrator first has to take ownership of the file and then set
the needed permissions for administrator access to the file.
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308421
Here is a method some virus use to try to thwart file repair efforts:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;120716

Best wishes.

Hi WinGuy,

I have administrator's privilege and I'm pretty it has nothing to do with
the file or folder properties. Since, the hard drive has been reformatted I
guess we would just have to forget about it. May be this is just another
shortcoming of the Windows OS which is just inexplicable.

Hi, Ray. Right-click that bothersome item and note all its Properties. Tell
us what all the properties are set to for it, and be detailed. Also, since
you have Pro, make sure your account has sufficient privileges for that
particular folder (which is just a file, check it's Security tab under its
Properties - you can do this from Windows Explorer, too, but make sure
Explorer is configured to show ALL files, including hidden and system ones,
and hide them again when you're done).

Have tried numerous methods and utilities by to no avail. This leave

me
with

no choice but to reformat the hard drive.

Hi Roger,

Thanks for the advice but it doesn't work. The error says "The system
cannot
find the specified file."

Hi Ray,

 

[RayM]

Yes, since there is no critical data on the drive, I thought this might be a
quick solution to the problem.
Anyway, thanks for the information below. It is definitely helpful.

Ok, RayM. So you took the sledge hammer approach already.

The system itself has rights that supercede that of an administrator. For
example, some system files can not be deleted even by an administrator, a
file in use can not be deleted by an administrator, etc. A file can have
security properties that forbid an administrator from using it, in which
case the administrator first has to take ownership of the file and then set
the needed permissions for administrator access to the file.
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308421
Here is a method some virus use to try to thwart file repair efforts:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;120716

Best wishes.

Hi WinGuy,

I have administrator's privilege and I'm pretty it has nothing to do with
the file or folder properties. Since, the hard drive has been

reformatted

I
guess we would just have to forget about it. May be this is just another
shortcoming of the Windows OS which is just inexplicable.