undeletable files

[Guest]

eI have several file icons on my desktop which I cannot open, change, move,
delete. etc. I don't know or remember how they got there. When I try to
delete them, the error message says.
" Cannot delete file: Cannot read from the source file or disk."
Any idea how to get rid of these things? (They're driving me nuts!)

 

[Malke]

eI have several file icons on my desktop which I cannot open, change,
move,
delete. etc. I don't know or remember how they got there. When I try
to delete them, the error message says.
" Cannot delete file: Cannot read from the source file or disk."
Any idea how to get rid of these things? (They're driving me nuts!)

What are the icons from? When did they get there? You can try a few
things (try one thing at a time and test after each change):

1. Make sure the desktop items aren't locked by going to the Display
applet, Desktop, Customize button, Web tab, make sure nothing is
locked.

2. Try in Safe Mode. If the items are namespace items, you can remove
them with regedit here:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace

3. Do a System Restore to before the icons showed up.

Also, make sure your computer is clean:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

Malke

 

[lvee]

Try right clicking the file>open with>Notepad>this file does not exist,
would you like to create a new one? YES, add some text to it so the new
file has data, save it, then you should be able to delete it since it now
has valid data and name.

 

[Guest]

Thanks, but this didn't work. The new file can be deleted, but the original
persists on the desktop. Even doing a "save as" doesn't overwrite the
original, undeletable file.

 

[riverman]

What files are they?

--riverman

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the reply.
1. OK - nothing is locked.
2. Started up in safe mode, but I'm not sure how to do this?
3. I'm not sure what i would lose by doing a system restore?

 

[Malke]

Thanks for the reply.
1. OK - nothing is locked.
2. Started up in safe mode, but I'm not sure how to do this?
3. I'm not sure what i would lose by doing a system restore?

Why are you so hesitant to tell us the names of the icons? If they are
pr0n icons you have malware on your computer that needs to be cleaned
up.

System Restore should not disturb your data files. Here is a link all
about System Restore from MVP Bert Kinney:
http://bertk.mvps.org/index.html

Malke

 

[Squire]

If you right click on an Icon and select delete, does it ask if you want to
remove it to the recycle bin ?
And says it only removes the Icon not the program ?
Also
Have you tried to delete the program at the CMD prompt ?

Jerry

 

[riverman]

I agree with Malke, Sam. It seems like you are resistant to telling us
what the icons are, which makes me think that you got some malware
(malevolent software, like unwanted desktop icons) from surfing some
porn site.

If thats the case, no one here is going to judge you, no matter what
the sites were....in fact, you might get some tips on how to avoid
getting malware in the future. But it will help us immensely if you
tell us what the icons are for: most malware is quickly recognizable,
and if the usual scrub programs aren't getting rid of it, then we can
tell you where to find the right resource.

But just giving generic guidelines doesn't seem to be doing it. If you
are concerned about posting it on a public forum, then maybe one of the
gurus here will offer you their email and you can discuss this offline?

Meanwhile, what Anti-ad and anti-virus programs do you have?

--riverman

 

[Jim Byrd]

Hi Sam - From my Blog, Defending Your Machine, addy in my Signature below:


Sometimes the tools below will find files which they are unable to delete
because they are in use.

A program called Copylock, here, http://noeld.com/programs.asp?cat=misc can
aid in the process of "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.)"

Another is Killbox, here: http://www.downloads.subratam.org/KillBox.zip

A third which is a bit different but often very useful is Delete Invalid
File, here: http://www.purgeie.com/delinv.htm which handles invalid/UNC
file/folder name deleting, rather than the in use problem.

A fourth useful program is Unlocker, here:
..http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/ " Simply right click the folder or file
and select Unlocker. If the folder or file is locked, a window listing of
lockers will appear. Simply select the lockers and click Unlock and you are
done!" Works as advertised and is particularly helpful in identifying
malware components which are 'protecting' each other.

 

[Ed Hardee]

Sam;
Try creating a boot floppy, boot to it and log onto
docume~1\admini~1\desktop and at the prompt type del <filemane>
This worked on mine. you may have to change the attribute on them (they may
be hidden files or read only)
Ed
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