HOW TO DELETE AN IMPOSSIBLE TO DELETE FILE

[Guest]

I have an incomplete .avi file on my hard drive which is 492MB. I would like to delete the file from my system, but everytime I try to delete it, I receive a message "Cannot delete this file it being used by another person or program. Close any programs that might be using the file and try again." However, no other person or program is using the file at the time I'm trying to delete it

I have tried to delete the file after I've restarted my computer, I have tried deleting the file in "Safe Mode" without success . Can you advise how to delete this file

 

[dev]

/SLK/ said:

I have an incomplete .avi file on my hard drive which is 492MB. I would like to delete the file from my system, but everytime I try to delete it, I receive a message "Cannot delete this file it being used by another person or program. Close any programs that might be using the file and try again." However, no other person or program is using the file at the time I'm trying to delete it.

I have tried to delete the file after I've restarted my computer, I have tried deleting the file in "Safe Mode" without success . Can you advise how to delete this file?

"
How do I delete an "undeletable" file?"
Kelly's link, below, under "F".

 

[Gaz]

I have an incomplete .avi file on my hard drive which is 492MB. I would

like to delete the file from my system, but everytime I try to delete it, I
receive a message "Cannot delete this file it being used by another person
or program. Close any programs that might be using the file and try again."
However, no other person or program is using the file at the time I'm trying
to delete it.

I have tried to delete the file after I've restarted my computer, I have

tried deleting the file in "Safe Mode" without success . Can you advise how
to delete this file?
Open a COMMAND window, kill explorer, then delete the file using del in the
command window. Restart explorer.

Cheers.

 

[Steve]

Would renaming the file to something simple, and moving to the C: root
directory, make deleting it easier using this technique? Then there won't
be any possibly long paths to recall...

 

[Guest]

Thank you for your advice, however I'd appreciate if you could elaborate as to the steps for incorporating your suggested remedy.

1. How do I open a Command Window
2. How do I kill Explorer
3. How do I delete the file using delete in the command window
4. How do I restart Explorer

Thanks, sorry I'm a neophyte at this stuff.

 

[Gaz]

Thank you for your advice, however I'd appreciate if you could elaborate

as to the steps for incorporating your suggested remedy.

1. How do I open a Command Window?

Start -> Run..., Type 'cmd'

2. How do I kill Explorer?

Hold down Ctrl & Alt and press Delete, the Windows Task Manager pops up.
Click the Processes tab, then click explorer.exe in the list and End
process.

3. How do I delete the file using delete in the command window?

Navigate to the directory containing your undeletable file using 'dir' to

4. How do I restart Explorer?

Type 'explorer' in the Command window.

Thanks, sorry I'm a neophyte at this stuff.

Pleasure.

 

[Bee]

Pictorial step-by- step instructions
http://www.theeldergeek.com/delete_undeletable_file.htm

Another technique which is simpler and you might like to try first: Create a
new folder. Drag and drop the undeletable into this new folder. If it goes
in without bouncing back out again, then you are halfway there. Now delete
the loaded new folder as usual: Rt. click > Delete etc..Yet, another simple
trick is to make anything going into the Recycle Bin going right through to
the great cyberspace in one step, bypassing the stage of staying in the bin,
where you then have to further instruct the bin to empty to the
unrecoverable yonder. Just select [Do not remove files.....] in the Recycle
Bin Properties box (Rt.click Recycle Bin). Unfortunately, these ploys don't
work sometimes, for, on reboot, the undeletable reappears!

Good luck.

Bee.
--
[I have found my Shangri-La in ntlworld.]


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Thank you for your advice, however I'd appreciate if you could elaborate

as to the steps for incorporating your suggested remedy.