Windows XP Repair

[Guest]

A friend (running XP Home) recently had a virus infection. Through hours
with tech support, the virus was eliminated and security re-established. But
a number of files, mostly documents and jpegs, were corrupted. Several
passes with Chkdsk/f appeared to get rid of the file system errors and
repaired the index. But there remain corrupted files than can't be deleted,
moved, renamed, or modified. This is complicating attempts to backup.

The error message indicates that either the file is in use, or is on a read
only drive. Neither is the case. Any idea on how to delete these bad files?

Thanks.

GButch
New to XP.....

 

[Ron Martell]

A friend (running XP Home) recently had a virus infection. Through hours
with tech support, the virus was eliminated and security re-established. But
a number of files, mostly documents and jpegs, were corrupted. Several
passes with Chkdsk/f appeared to get rid of the file system errors and
repaired the index. But there remain corrupted files than can't be deleted,
moved, renamed, or modified. This is complicating attempts to backup.

The error message indicates that either the file is in use, or is on a read
only drive. Neither is the case. Any idea on how to delete these bad files?

Boot the computer into Safe Mode and see if that will allow the files
to be worked with.

Create a bootable Windows XP CD using Bart's PE Builder from
http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/
Boot the computer with this CD and you should then be able to access
all of these files and make whatever changes are necessary.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Pop`]

A friend (running XP Home) recently had a virus infection. Through
hours with tech support, the virus was eliminated and security
re-established. But a number of files, mostly documents and jpegs,
were corrupted. Several passes with Chkdsk/f appeared to get rid of
the file system errors and repaired the index. But there remain
corrupted files than can't be deleted, moved, renamed, or modified.
This is complicating attempts to backup.

The error message indicates that either the file is in use,

How do you know they aren't in use? It's very likely they are, perhaps as a
background task or as a result of having been started at boot time.

or is on

a read only drive.

That may mean a CD, but hard to tell since you didn't quote the errors.

Neither is the case. Any idea on how to delete

these bad files?

I think you need to provide more information to get good answers. What are
the filenames, exact error messages, what action causes the error messages,
etc.?

Have you tried to do a Repair Install? Done correctly, no data will be lost
but all your XP files will be refreshed. You'll have to use online update
to get all your fixes reinstalled.

Worse case you may have to reinstall XP. You will lose all your data, so
back up anything that's important to you first.

Assistance with either/both can be had for the asking; I just noticed you
said you're a new user.

Good luck,

Pop`

 

[Rock]

A friend (running XP Home) recently had a virus infection. Through hours
with tech support, the virus was eliminated and security re-established.
But
a number of files, mostly documents and jpegs, were corrupted. Several
passes with Chkdsk/f appeared to get rid of the file system errors and
repaired the index. But there remain corrupted files than can't be
deleted,
moved, renamed, or modified. This is complicating attempts to backup.

The error message indicates that either the file is in use, or is on a
read
only drive. Neither is the case. Any idea on how to delete these bad
files?

Thanks.

GButch
New to XP.....

See if this helps.
http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/

Also take a look at this:
HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=308421