Delete a file that "refuses" to be deleted in the normal fashion

[Barry Karas]

4-Jun-06

How could I delete a file that "refuses" to be deleted in the normal
fashion?

I was thinking of going to safe mode and deleting it from there.
Also, what if I go to the DOS prompt and delete from there? If I do
so, what format s/ I use since I forget what I used ±10 years ago.?
[DOS mode seemed t/b more effective under Win95 and Win98.]

Thank you,

Barry Karas

P.S. I have WinXP Pro w/ SP2.

 

[Barry Karas]

Nothing happens -- the file is still there. The file does not go away for
even an instant.

I do not get any message.

I am trying to remember the file's name.

Sincerely,

Barry Karas
***********************************************************

G'Day Barry,

How could I delete a file that "refuses" to be deleted in the normal
fashion?

I'd love to help, but have NO IDEA what you mean.

When you 'delete' the file, what happens?
A Windows error message?
OR does the file delete ok, but somehow reappear?
What is the file name?......

EXACTLY how do you 'delete', and EXACTLY what happens?
--
Regards,
Pat Garard
Melbourne, Australia
_______________________

4-Jun-06

How could I delete a file that "refuses" to be deleted in the normal
fashion?

I was thinking of going to safe mode and deleting it from there.
Also, what if I go to the DOS prompt and delete from there? If I do
so, what format s/ I use since I forget what I used ±10 years ago.?
[DOS mode seemed t/b more effective under Win95 and Win98.]

Thank you,

Barry Karas

P.S. I have WinXP Pro w/ SP2.

 

[Pat Garard]

G'Day Barry,

How could I delete a file that "refuses" to be deleted in the normal
fashion?

I'd love to help, but have NO IDEA what you mean.

When you 'delete' the file, what happens?
A Windows error message?
OR does the file delete ok, but somehow reappear?
What is the file name?......

EXACTLY how do you 'delete', and EXACTLY what happens?
--
Regards,
Pat Garard
Melbourne, Australia
_______________________

4-Jun-06

How could I delete a file that "refuses" to be deleted in the normal
fashion?

I was thinking of going to safe mode and deleting it from there.
Also, what if I go to the DOS prompt and delete from there? If I do
so, what format s/ I use since I forget what I used ±10 years ago.?
[DOS mode seemed t/b more effective under Win95 and Win98.]

Thank you,

Barry Karas

P.S. I have WinXP Pro w/ SP2.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

4-Jun-06

How could I delete a file that "refuses" to be deleted in the normal
fashion?

I was thinking of going to safe mode and deleting it from there.
Also, what if I go to the DOS prompt and delete from there? If I do
so, what format s/ I use since I forget what I used ±10 years ago.?
[DOS mode seemed t/b more effective under Win95 and Win98.]

Another "Frequently Asked/Answered Question" in the MS Newsgroups and other
such forums..

Search using Google!
http://www.google.com/
(How-to: http://www.google.com/intl/en/help/basics.html )

UnLocker
http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/

The safe mode idea is a good one as well.

As for the DOS prompt idea...
Many times, the reason you cannot delete it is that it is a file that
Windows Explorer is trying to access.. The secret is to reboot, log on and
not use Windows Explorer - but open a command prompt immediately and change
into the proper directory and delete the file using the "DEL" or "ERASE"
command line tool. You can always do a /? command line on a command.. (like
ERASE /?)

 

[TaurArian [MS-MVP]]

Use at your own risk

Utility for Deleting Invalid Files
http://www.purgeie.com/delinv.htm
For invalid/UNC file/folder name deleting, rather than the in use problem

Locked Files Wizard formerly CopyLock is a simple assistant that allows you to
replace, to move, to delete and to rename one or more files or folders which are
in use by the system or any other process.
CopyLock is a small program that allows replacing, moving, renaming or deleting
one or many files which are currently in use (e.g. system files like
comctl32.dll, or virus/trojan files.)
http://noeld.com/programs.asp?cat=misc

http://www.subratam.org/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19&Itemid=41
Another is Killbox, here: http://www.downloads.subratam.org/KillBox.zip

Unlocker
http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/
Cannot delete file: Access is denied
There has been a sharing violation.
The source or destination file may be in use.
The file is in use by another program or user.
Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is not
currently in use.

--

===========================
TaurArian [MS-MVP] 2005-2006
===========================
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
"Need more help? http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=ph;en-us;6527
(Links to web pages and MSKB Articles are posted for the purposes of keeping the
information current)


| 4-Jun-06
|
| How could I delete a file that "refuses" to be deleted in the normal
| fashion?
|
| I was thinking of going to safe mode and deleting it from there.
| Also, what if I go to the DOS prompt and delete from there? If I do
| so, what format s/ I use since I forget what I used ±10 years ago.?
| [DOS mode seemed t/b more effective under Win95 and Win98.]
|
| Thank you,
|
| Barry Karas
|
| P.S. I have WinXP Pro w/ SP2.
|

 

[Sharon F]

4-Jun-06

How could I delete a file that "refuses" to be deleted in the normal
fashion?

I was thinking of going to safe mode and deleting it from there.
Also, what if I go to the DOS prompt and delete from there? If I do
so, what format s/ I use since I forget what I used ±10 years ago.?
[DOS mode seemed t/b more effective under Win95 and Win98.]

Thank you,

Barry Karas

P.S. I have WinXP Pro w/ SP2.

Barry, you've received a response about how to delete a file that is in
use. There are also some files that fall under XP's file protection
umbrella. Delete one of these and it automagically is replaced with a fresh
copy. The store of fresh copies is in the \windows\dllcache\ folder.
Deleting the file there first and then from wherever will stop the
automatic replacement. Unfortunately, doing this also means the file is no
longer protected.

Could try moving the file from dllcache. Do your troubleshooting and when
finished, replace the file to that folder in the hopes that it will once
again be "protected."