Can't delete DOS Executables

[Dario]

Hello

I have a huge problem with my Windows XP Pro SP-1. I cannot
access most of my MS-DOS executables, because the process
EXPLORER.EXE is accessing them. This of course also means
that I cannot delete any DOS executables anymore. If I open
the task manager, close EXPLORER.EXE, then run COMMAND.COM
and, then I can delete the files from there. But as soon as
I start explorer again, it doesn't work anymore.

EXPLORER.EXE seems to access the files as soon as I click
on them and then don't free them again. I have restarted
Windows XP and then run command.com and tried to rename a
specific DOS executable. It worked. Then I opened the
Explorer window, opened the folder and just clicked the
file *once* and then closed the Explorer window again, and
command.com couldn't rename the file until I closed
EXPLORER.EXE task again.

This is really driving me nuts, as the problem consists
with every DOS executable in every folder. I just can't
work this way, please tell me if this is a known problem or
where I should continue to look for a solution.

Thank you very much
Dario

 

[Malke]

Hello

I have a huge problem with my Windows XP Pro SP-1. I cannot
access most of my MS-DOS executables, because the process
EXPLORER.EXE is accessing them. This of course also means
that I cannot delete any DOS executables anymore. If I open
the task manager, close EXPLORER.EXE, then run COMMAND.COM
and, then I can delete the files from there. But as soon as
I start explorer again, it doesn't work anymore.

EXPLORER.EXE seems to access the files as soon as I click
on them and then don't free them again. I have restarted
Windows XP and then run command.com and tried to rename a
specific DOS executable. It worked. Then I opened the
Explorer window, opened the folder and just clicked the
file *once* and then closed the Explorer window again, and
command.com couldn't rename the file until I closed
EXPLORER.EXE task again.

This is really driving me nuts, as the problem consists
with every DOS executable in every folder. I just can't
work this way, please tell me if this is a known problem or
where I should continue to look for a solution.

I don't quite understand you since there is no DOS in XP. Are you saying
that you have old DOS programs that will no longer run or that none of
your regular programs will run?

In any case, what does a scan with a current antivirus program (meaning
a version not earlier than 2002 and using updated virus definitions)
show?

Malke

 

[Nelson]

Excuse me but what makes you think you want to delete any
executables ?

 

[Dario]

No, I have no problems in running the programs, and this is
not what my post is about. I do not want to run the
programs, I want to delete them. Just click on them and
delete. But I can't because EXPLORER.EXE is accessing them
all the time, even if I just clicked the file once in explorer.

 

[Dario]

I want to delete executables because I have DOS-software on
my harddisk which I want to get rid of!

 

[zag]

Malke -
Get off the crap of no DOS in XP. There is indeed a DOS
emulator, and as far as users are concerned it's the same
thing.
Dario -
What's the point in deleting the .exe's? They aren't
doing any harm are they? What is this huge problem?
z ----------------------------------------------------

 

[Dario]

The problem is that my entire hard-drive is cluttered with
DOS programs I want to delete. And as a matter of fact, I
am very interested in old computer software, especially
games, and even work on a website about them, and because
of that I have to install and try out DOS programs nearly
every day, working intensively with them, including much
deleting. Additionally, for some reason, some DOS EXEs I
run from anywhere else tend to suddenly appear on my
desktop. And if I have to quit the Explorer process every
time I want to delete or rename a DOS-EXE, which can be a
few hundred times a day, I'm going nuts!! :-/

 

[t.cruise]

Have you tried booting into Safe Mode and deleting them from there?

 

[zag]

Dario -
OK - Now it makes sense.
Why not try F8 on Windows startup and boot into "Safe
Mode with Command Prompt". That way you should be able
to get at your executables before explorer ever gets
involved. I presume you are familiar with good old DOS
commands and can find what you are looking for and get
rid of it, or them.
good luck - z -----------------------------------------

 

[Alex Nichol]

No, I have no problems in running the programs, and this is
not what my post is about. I do not want to run the
programs, I want to delete them. Just click on them and
delete. But I can't because EXPLORER.EXE is accessing them
all the time, even if I just clicked the file once in explorer.

This is very difficult to understand, because there is no difference
between a DOS .exe file and a Windows .exe file until they come to be
loaded. I can only think that you have the Command Prompt open and it
has a DIR going on the directory, or something of the sort. But you
ought to be able to delete them using that