Can't delete desktop files

[Guest]

I left my friend's daughter with the job of moving data files out of
the C: drive to partitions on a new slave drive. Unfortunately, some
Real Player avi files were put on the desktop in a two stage move. Now
they are on the desktop permanently. Attempts to delete them bring up
this message:Cannot delete filename. it is being used by another
person or program. Close any programs that might be using the file and
try again.

There were no other programs running and I am not aware that there
were any users set up.

Any help?

Colin

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Make sure that realplay.exe is not running, kill explorer.exe, restart
explorer.exe and then try to delete the files.

To kill explorer and restart it.

Open the Task Manager...
Ctrl + Shift + Escape | Click on the Processes tab | Locate and highlight
explorer.exe | Right click explorer.exe | Click End Process | Click
Yes to the Task Manager Warning that pops up | Click File on the Toolbar |
Click New Task (Run...) | Type in: explorer | Click OK

End Process on explorer.exe will make your Desktop, Taskbar and all programs
disappear. This can be startling. Restarting explorer will bring
everything back.

This can fix/restore/reinitialize/refresh a lot of things.

Start in Safe Mode and then try to delete the files.

To start the computer in safe mode
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/boot_failsafe.mspx

You cannot delete a file or a folder on an NTFS file system volume
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=320081

MANUALLY DELETING STUBBORN FILES
http://aumha.org/a/stubborn.php

You Cannot Delete a File or a Folder
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;320081

Delete A File That Is Seemingly "Undeletable"
http://www.theeldergeek.com/delete_undeletable_file.htm

Delete - Can't Delete Files or Folders
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_d.htm#del

Delete - AVI, MPG... files (access denied error)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_d.htm

Scroll down to Delete - AVI, MPG... files (access denied error)
---

How To Delete "Undeletable" Files And Folders In XP
http://www.bootdisk.com/xptop20.htm#8

Cannot delete file or folder
[[Sometimes a file cannot be deleted or a folder removed because Windows
says it's open by another program.]]
http://www.michna.com/kb/WxCannotDelete.htm

"Access Denied" Error Message When You Try to Delete a File
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=298345

You Receive an "Access Denied" Error Message When You Delete Folders from a
Mounted Drive
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=319368

How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308421

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Guest]

Wow! Thanks for a comprehensive reply. I shall keep this message by
me for the future.

Actually, I cheated. I didn't have much time so I restored an image
from a couple of days ago before they started shifting data around.

My current beef is that I installed a large slave drive and
partitioned it and moved the data into them, keeping the first
partition free. I did the separation of data from the O/S myself this
time. Then I used True Image by Acronis to clone the existing 15Gb
hard drive onto the first partition of the new slave drive.

Only I had to pull out when I realised that it wanted to wipe out all
my new partitions and their data. I'll give it another go tomorrow.

Best wishes

Colin

Make sure that realplay.exe is not running, kill explorer.exe, restart
explorer.exe and then try to delete the files.

To kill explorer and restart it.

Open the Task Manager...
Ctrl + Shift + Escape | Click on the Processes tab | Locate and highlight
explorer.exe | Right click explorer.exe | Click End Process | Click
Yes to the Task Manager Warning that pops up | Click File on the Toolbar |
Click New Task (Run...) | Type in: explorer | Click OK

End Process on explorer.exe will make your Desktop, Taskbar and all programs
disappear. This can be startling. Restarting explorer will bring
everything back.

This can fix/restore/reinitialize/refresh a lot of things.

Start in Safe Mode and then try to delete the files.

To start the computer in safe mode
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/boot_failsafe.mspx

You cannot delete a file or a folder on an NTFS file system volume
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=320081

MANUALLY DELETING STUBBORN FILES
http://aumha.org/a/stubborn.php

You Cannot Delete a File or a Folder
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;320081

Delete A File That Is Seemingly "Undeletable"
http://www.theeldergeek.com/delete_undeletable_file.htm

Delete - Can't Delete Files or Folders
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_d.htm#del

Delete - AVI, MPG... files (access denied error)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_d.htm

Scroll down to Delete - AVI, MPG... files (access denied error)
---

How To Delete "Undeletable" Files And Folders In XP
http://www.bootdisk.com/xptop20.htm#8

Cannot delete file or folder
[[Sometimes a file cannot be deleted or a folder removed because Windows
says it's open by another program.]]
http://www.michna.com/kb/WxCannotDelete.htm

"Access Denied" Error Message When You Try to Delete a File
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=298345

You Receive an "Access Denied" Error Message When You Delete Folders from a
Mounted Drive
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=319368

How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308421