Cannot delete a file

Hi guys,
I have a small question/problem... I would appreciate if someone could help....
keepin it short....

downloaded stuff from kazaa... there are two files, 20kb each with very very lengthy names.... Well, windows sees them as 'bmp' files but there's no picture.... The problem is that I can't delete them... I try to delete them but nothing happens... and I mean, nothing happens.... no message, no error, nothing... I can't cut or paste them, can't rename them and I can't get rid of them... I have the latest definitions of norton antivirus... no virus detected!!! Pls help...

 

I'm sorry I forgot to mention that it was the first thing I tried... rebooting and then deleting... it doesn't work!!!!

 

Try to delete from "Safe Mode ". Also provide us with the file names -(or)- do a google search on the file names. Your probably not the first person to have this problem.

 

How can I go to safe mode in windows xp home edition?

and also, I was wondering if someone could suggest a good, reliable program to clean up the registry...

 

Shut down computer, when you turn computer back on.... continually push "F8 ". That will bring up your "Safe Mode screen ".
Registry cleaner....
I and many XP user enjoy "RegScrubXP "
Use this google search to select a down load site. Run it in the automatic cleanup mode.

 

Thanks guys,
I have installed the registry cleaner u suggested... seems to be working alright...

As far as those two files are concerned, I have not been able to delete them yet... even tried deleting them in the safe mode...

I would like to try deleting them in the DOS mode, but I'm not too sure how it's done....
I have some experience using Norton commander.... but I don't have it installed in my comp.... (btw, do such file managers like norton commander, Far etc work with windows xp???)

help!!!

 

Maybe this solution can help.....

http://www.dougknox.com/index.html

How do I Delete an 'undeletable' file?

Thanks to MS-MVP Kelly Theriot for this tip.

Open a Command Prompt window and leave it open. Close all open programs. Click Start, Run and enter TASKMGR.EXE Go to the Processes tab and End Process on Explorer.exe. Leave Task Manager open. Go back to the Command Prompt window and change to the directory the AVI (or other undeletable file) is located in. At the command prompt type DEL <filename> where <filename> is the file you wish to delete. Go back to Task Manager, click File, New Task and enter EXPLORER.EXE to restart the GUI shell. Close Task Manager.

==================================================================
OR
Open up a Command Prompt and get to the C:\ Root Directory (or wherever the file is located) then type in rd /s /q along with the location of the file or folder you want to delete. In my case the entire command was:
C:\rd /s /q C:\FolderIcons <Enter>

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It may not work if the folder name is longer than 6 characters. I then found this URL
http://www.tek-tips.com/gviewthread.cfm/lev2/3/lev3/19/pid/96/qid/263547
jasen (Visitor) May 1, 2002

drop to a cmd session, and run "dir /x" in the parent directory. This will tell you the 8.3 filename. Now just delete that name with the "del" comand.

Command prompt
C:\>rd /s /q C:\Folder~1 (Enter)
and it worked.

 

Thank you very much... but to tell you the truth, I haven't used DOS in ages... now I can't make head or tail out of the command prompt....
don't know what to do.... maybe I'll figure out a way to find my way around dos... then we'll see...

 

Try this:

1.) Open Task Manager.
2.) Terminate explorer.exe.
3.) Go to Application tab and click "New Task ".
4.) Type in the box: cmd /k del <path to file> (with the path in quotes if there are any spaces).
5.) Record any messages.
6.) Close the command window.
7.) Click "New Task" again.
8.) Type: explorer
to start the shell again

 

Hi dmad

I don't know if this simple trick will work, takes 30 seconds to try....
Put a floppy in (A) drive
Go to explorer, "click on problem file ".
Go to tool bar, select "Move To "
Direct "move to" the (A) drive.
If it works, trash the floppy -(or)- reformat floppy disk.