how do u delete a file in XP pro that wont delete?
 

I have just downloaded a video clip on my comp but came to delete it and it just says the program is in use by something else-even started under safe mode and still it wont delete-im using XP pro how else can i get this file deleted-my virus checker comes up clean on it btw

any help?

those p0rn clips are really hard to delete arent they...

any info in the properties? in the attributes has it got a option for 'unblock' tick it if its there. Also permissions for this file? or a reboot

I've not had to deal with one of these for ages. Normally a trip into safe mode sorts it, but for us this has not been the case :( I guess they have become more adept at writing these fake files.

A few things spring to mind

1) You cannot be the only one with this problem, type the problem into Google and see what you come up with
2) There is a little utility called "Who Locked Me", and now apparantly Freefile too. See here: http://adminfoo.net/node/102/745 These should be able to tell you what is locking the file, and may help you in killing that process so you can delete it.
3) You can boot your machine from a DOS disk, mount your partition using NTFS for DOS and then navigate to the offending file and delete it. This last option is not a lot of fun, so try others first.

EDIT: The link for freefile does not work in the page I gave you, use this instead: http://www.snapfiles.com/get/freefile.html

:norty:

sofar ive only had to do what ive said. If youve just downloaded it ive simply left it & sometime later its deleted ok. Also closing down any media prog, real etc disconnected the association (the prog the clip is using)

Oooh, another thought!!

Your computer may well be trying to preview the clip you have. This can lock the file.

Open the folder where you file is, go to View, and then customise. Change it to documents so that it does not try to preview the file. This can give you a better chance to delete it :)

I've also had success using Nero !!:eek: of all things to delete files that windows trys to preview and ends up locking. Reboot, do not open the folder where the file is!! Go into Nero, naviagte to the file and then right click and delete. You will have to be in the original layour of Nero to do this I think.

Of course, other file browsers will be able to do this, not just Nero :)

just used that program-wholocking me thingy to see what was locking it and it came up explorer.exe-but if i use ctrl+alt+del to end explorer.exe then i cant do anything on screen to delete the file then-bugger what else can i do

Well now we know what is going wrong at least :) It is window's explorer itself attempting to preview the file that is causing you your problems.

Try the stuff in the box you quoted about, that should sort it :)

have you rebooted & unplug the internet cable just to make sure

edited: forget that - youve gone into safemode...

do a format c:....

kidding...


unlike a collegue told the VP recently....

think i may have renamed it, opened the new one, closed it, deleted the old one.

or

made a copy of it & deleted the original one


sounds like deja moo? makes no sence man, true, but it works
thats pooter for you...they make no sence...

If you get these in the future (corrupt files or whatever), there's a utility called moveonboot that you can download free from the Interweb, they also do one called deleteonboot.

These utils action the move or delete before windows can get a handle on the files.

Rich

problem sorted used that delete on boot programme-damn good-that deleted it-thanks for help-now i got rid of that file i can go view my others-anyone got a box of tissues handy :eek2:

i thought youve been trying to delete 'those' video clips ;)