Can't delete a file - says it is in use but isn't.

[boe]

I've had this happen a few times. I'll copy a file to my system that isn't
being used but I can't delete it.

Things I've tried -
Check properties - no read only or anything like that
Go to CMD promp - attrib - no attributes
boot in safe mode - still can't delete or rename

I have virus protection and a firewall that are up to date. This has
happened on too many different systems with different protection of
different file types for this to be a virus. It must be a setting within
Windows I haven't learned yet.

My only solution so far has to boot off another drive and delete them that
way - I'm sure there is a better way but I don't know it.

Thanks

 

[S.Sengupta]

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_undeletable_file.htm

regards,
ssg MS-MVP

 

[Guest]

have you tried deleting via cmd line it usually works for me

 

[boe]

Thanks - I've never tried that before. It didn't delete the file but I'll
add that to the things I try next time for another file I can't delete.

 

[boe]

I should have posted that I tried that without luck - I thought about it
afterwards but never remembered to list it.

 

[boe]

I am sadly mistaken - it did delete the file - I was listing by cmd and
didn't notice it was the directory that remained, not the file. Thanks!!!!

 

[Plato]

I've had this happen a few times. I'll copy a file to my system that isn't
being used but I can't delete it.

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