Problems deleting a file

[sparklism]

Hi.
I am unable to delete a file I downloaded which I suspect
is a virus/trojan. Windows is telling me that it is being
used by another person or program. I have scanned it with
my AV software but no virus was found. I have looked at
Task Manager but I don't see anything running which looks
immediately suspicious. How can I delete the file?
Thanks for your help!

 

[Thorsten Matzner]

I am unable to delete a file I downloaded which I suspect
is a virus/trojan. Windows is telling me that it is being
used by another person or program. I have scanned it with
my AV software but no virus was found. I have looked at
Task Manager but I don't see anything running which looks
immediately suspicious. How can I delete the file?

Try to delete the file from the Safe Mode.
"A Description of the Safe Boot Mode Options in Windows XP"
(http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315222)

 

[sparklism]

Thanks

I tried it in safe mode but still the same problem I'm
afraid......

 

[Robin McDonald]

go into your windows processes and see if the file is
running. If so end that process.

You can enter the process tab by hitting CTRL + ALT + DEL

this perhaps may work for your situation.

Take Care


Robin.

 

[sparklism]

Thanks

I've already tried that though - there isn't a process
that seems to be unusual running at all though, the only
processes there seem to be all legitimate WinXP
processes. I'm really stumped!!

Thanks again

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In

I am unable to delete a file I downloaded which I suspect
is a virus/trojan. Windows is telling me that it is being
used by another person or program. I have scanned it with
my AV software but no virus was found. I have looked at
Task Manager but I don't see anything running which looks
immediately suspicious. How can I delete the file?
Thanks for your help!

What's the name of the file? Why do you think it's a virus? Even
if it is, just deleting it isn't necessarily the correct way to
get rid of a virus; there may be many other things you need to
do.

Try looking up the file name on http://www.symantec.com/search/

 

[sparklism]

The name of the file is unprintable on a family website
such as this, if you see what I mean.... And yes, I know
it serves me right & I'll go blind one day.....

The very fact that I am unable to move or delete it, and
that it is running somewhere doing something in the
background is enough to make me realise that it's dodgy.

Thanks for your help though!

 

[HillBillyBuddhist]

| Hi.
| I am unable to delete a file I downloaded which I suspect
| is a virus/trojan. Windows is telling me that it is being
| used by another person or program. I have scanned it with
| my AV software but no virus was found. I have looked at
| Task Manager but I don't see anything running which looks
| immediately suspicious. How can I delete the file?
| Thanks for your help!

Thanks to MS-MVP Kelly Theriot for this tip
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_undeletable_file.htm
--
D

I'm not an MVP a VIP nor do I have ESP.
I was just trying to help.
Please use your own best judgment before implementing any suggestions or
advice herein.
No warranty is expressed or implied.
Your mileage may vary.
See store for details.

Remove shoes to E-mail.

 

[Rich]

Is it a file, or in the drop down history window??. Have
seen those files attach themselves in the drop down
history window, and could not delete it. It has happened
to me and others. In fact, that is what got me steered
toward these newsgroups. Deleting history, cookies,
files, etc did not fix it. Had to reload the entire
system to get rid of it.