Can't Delete Files

[Canopus]

I was doing a clean up of files on my second hard drive and found that
there were three mp3 files I couldn't delete. Every time I attempted to
delete them either altogether or one at the time I was told that my system
couldn't find the path to the files. None of the files can play, right
clicking on them doesn't bring up a Properties option neither does
Properties button etc. bring up any Properties. Altogether they are 13
MB. A Secure File Shredder has no effect on them.

It's as if their there, but, not there! How can I get rid of them?

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

Altogether they are 13 MB. A Secure File Shredder has no effect on them.

It's as if their [sic] there, but, not there! How can I get rid of them?

Since they're taking up only 13mb of disk space, why is it an issue?

 

[ColTom2]

Hi:

You might try going into Safe Mode and then deleting.


I was doing a clean up of files on my second hard drive and found that
there were three mp3 files I couldn't delete. Every time I attempted to
delete them either altogether or one at the time I was told that my system
couldn't find the path to the files. None of the files can play, right
clicking on them doesn't bring up a Properties option neither does
Properties button etc. bring up any Properties. Altogether they are 13
MB. A Secure File Shredder has no effect on them.

It's as if their there, but, not there! How can I get rid of them?

 

[Canopus]

Altogether they are 13 MB. A Secure File Shredder has no effect on them.

It's as if their [sic] there, but, not there! How can I get rid of them?

Since they're taking up only 13mb of disk space, why is it an issue?

I don't like ghosts in my machine!

Seriously though, I'm seeing something listed in a directory and my PC is
telling me my OS can't find the path to what it is showing me...I want to
correct it. I don't care if it was 13KB or 13 GB, I don't want something
worthless hanging about in my files system along with two levels of
folders above it that also can't be deleted.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Open the media player, remove them from the playlists. Then try deleting
them. Otherwise, see:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_d.htm#del

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Canopus]

Hi:

You might try going into Safe Mode and then deleting.

Same results in Safe Mode.

 

[WTC]

I was doing a clean up of files on my second hard drive and found that
there were three mp3 files I couldn't delete. Every time I attempted to
delete them either altogether or one at the time I was told that my system
couldn't find the path to the files. None of the files can play, right
clicking on them doesn't bring up a Properties option neither does
Properties button etc. bring up any Properties. Altogether they are 13 MB.
A Secure File Shredder has no effect on them.

It's as if their there, but, not there! How can I get rid of them?

Open the task manger and the command prompt. End the task for explorer in
the Task Manger, keep the command prompt open.

Then use the following command in the command prompt

del /a /f "\\?\pathtofilename\*filename*"

Example if you have a file called abc.mpg located in c:\temp\music then the
command would be

del /a /f "\\?\c:\temp\music\*abc.mpg*"

When done deleting the files, then enter "explorer" in the command prompt to
bring back your desktop.

 

[Plato]

I was doing a clean up of files on my second hard drive and found that
there were three mp3 files I couldn't delete. Every time I attempted to
delete them either altogether or one at the time I was told that my system
couldn't find the path to the files. None of the files can play, right

Did a chkdsk already on the second drive?

If so, then one may consider:
http://www.bootdisk.com/xptop20.htm#8

http://www.bootdisk.com/kentucky/copylock.zip
http://www.bootdisk.com/kentucky/lfwizard.zip
http://www.bootdisk.com/kentucky/unlock17.exe

 

[Canopus]

Did a chkdsk already on the second drive?

If so, then one may consider:
http://www.bootdisk.com/xptop20.htm#8

http://www.bootdisk.com/kentucky/copylock.zip
http://www.bootdisk.com/kentucky/lfwizard.zip
http://www.bootdisk.com/kentucky/unlock17.exe

Thanks Plato,
Did a scan disk last night and everything checked out. Of the three
utilities at Bootdisk Unlocker 1.7.4 was the only one that could touch the
files and even then not directly as there was no Right Click context menu
for them and it works through the context menu. Had to go up one level to
their folder which did display a context menu. No handle was evident for
them, but, ulocker managed to delete the folder along with the files and
they in turn could then be deleted from the Recycle Bin.

A very useful utility for a stubborn, illogical problem.

 

[Darrell S]

I was doing a clean up of files on my second hard drive and found that
there were three mp3 files I couldn't delete. Every time I attempted
to delete them either altogether or one at the time I was told that
my system couldn't find the path to the files. None of the files can
play, right clicking on them doesn't bring up a Properties option
neither does Properties button etc. bring up any Properties. Altogether
they are 13 MB. A Secure File Shredder has no effect on
them.
It's as if their there, but, not there! How can I get rid of them?

If it says it can't find the files it sounds like you're working with a
shortcut... not the actual file.

 

[Canopus]

If it says it can't find the files it sounds like you're working with a
shortcut... not the actual file.

Surely even a shortcut has properties and the context menu comes up on it
with right click. There also shouldn't have been a problem deleting a
shortcut. I've no idea what it was, but, they're gone now.