Jack said:
I have files stored in "My Music" when i try to delete copies of these files
show up. Can not delete. The more I try to delete, the more copies show up?
Of course, make absolutely sure your computer if free of virus, spyware, and
other malware.
This could be caused by the "preview" functionality of XP failing due to a
corrupted file that you want to delete and it is probably happening only
with files of the same type. If so, then you can try going to the
"HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\" key, using Registry Editor, and
find the section for that file type. For example, let's say the problem only
occurs with .AVI file types. For a preview problem with .AVI files,
highlight that .AVI key and then click on File and then on Export, and save
that section so you can import it again later. Then highlight that key again
and delete it, then reboot. Now you should be able to delete all .AVI type
files. When done, go back to that file you saved as a registry key export,
and double-click it so that it will be restored back into the registry, and
be sure to reboot again.
Be very careful using the registry editor. Most changes take affect upon
exit of the editor and without having to do a save operation, although some
require a reboot. Make a System Restore point before you use Regedit.
Improper changes to the registry can result in you system being unbootable
even in safe mode.
If the problem thereafter occurs again after you do the import then that key
of the registry, or the class key it refers to, is corrupted. That could be
fixed with much trial and time via not doing the import and instead manually
setting up an association for the file type at issue, but other registry
corruption would be likely and so I'd instead and in that case recommend
that a repair reinstallation of XP be performed so that the registry can be
rebuilt properly (this would require doing all updates after that, too). You
must use the same exact CD (or a copy of it) that was used to install
Windows in order to do a repair installation, using any other CD at all
would probably result in complete and permanent lockout from using XP at all
and you could loose everything.
