Can't erase a phantom file

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bev
  • Start date Start date
B

Bev

This morning I tried to copy a video file I had on CD
onto my hard drive. Instead of taking around 2 min., the
computer started to read "7 minutes remaining" and
climbed up to half an hour. I hit the cancel button, and
found in my "My Documents" folder the video file I was
trying to copy, which I will refer to as "File X" from
here on out. I try to erase File X, and it tells me that
other programs are using the file. I call up Task
Manager, and it tells me that only Windows explorer is
running. I have noticed that when I try to get the
Properties of File X, or do anything else with reference
to it, the computer slows down. Defragmentation is also
gummed up as well.
 
At the command prompt try erase /F "filename"

or

1. Open the Command Prompt window and leave it open.
2. Close all open programs.
3. Click Start, Run and enter TASKMGR.EXE
4. Go to the Processes tab and End Process on Explorer.exe.
5. Leave Task Manager open.
6. Go back to the Command Prompt window and change to the folder where the
undeletable file is in.
7. At the command prompt type DEL <filename> (filename is the file you
want to delete).
8. Go back to Task Manager, click File, New Task and enter EXPLORER.EXE to
restart the GUI shell.
9. Close Task Manager.

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