Can't Delete File

stuckinthecave

Baseband Member
Messages
59
I have a file that I can't delete. It won't move, copy, rename. I can't change the properties, it won't delete in safe mode or cmd, and it won't open in any program. I've scanned it with various virus, adware, spyware, and malware programs including norton and mcafee, but none of them thought is was a threat. I don't know what it is and I'm afraid it could harm my system. The last thing I want to do is format my drive and start clean, but I will if I have to.
 
Relax you probably won't have to reformat. A couple questions first:

1. Do you have administrator privileges on your account?
2. What's the name of the file?
3. What's the directory of the file?


It may be denying you access to delete it for the following reasons:

1. It's a system critical file
2. You do not have privileges to remove it
3. It is currently in use by a program

However if any of those three things are not true, try deleting it through the command prompt. Go to: Start > Run. Then type in CMD and press enter.

In the command prompt navigate to the directory where the file is. To do this first make sure that you are starting in the root directory. The first line of text should have a directory listed to it, it may say just C:\> or it may say C:\Random Folder>. If the latter is true, type in "cd.." without the quotation marks. Continually type that in and hit enter until you are at the root C: directory. To navigate to a different directory type in cd then the directory name. For example if the file was in C:\Program Files\Unreal Tournament\Noobs you would type this in:

cd "Program Files"\"Unreal Tournament"\Noobs

You put quotation marks around directories that have spaces in the name. Once you are in the correct directory type in:

del "File Name"

It should then be deleted. If you are having trouble navigating using the command prompt, tell me what directory it is in and I will tell you exactly what to type in.
 
Okay so try and rename the file, but instead copy the file name. This way you wont have to type it all out.

Go to start > run
Then type in cmd and hit enter.

Then type this into the command prompt. <enter> means to press enter. Italics are description of what you are doing.

cd.. <enter>
cd.. <enter>
cd.. <enter>
This is just to make sure you are at the root directory

cd C:\"Documents and Settings"\"Your windows xp username goes here"\Desktop <enter>
Here you are telling the CMD prompt to navigate to the desktop

del "file name here"
Here you are telling the cmd prompt to delete the file. Hit control 'v' to paste the file name that you copied earlier
 
When I right click, the drop down menu appears. I'm sure you've seen a normal one, but mine only has:

Preview
Print
Edit with Fireworks
Preview
Open With
Send to

Notice it's missing a few key elements. This only happens with this file. I opened the properties menu with alt+double click but trying to rename it gave me the error message "cannot read from the source file or disk". I did try to delete via CMD, copying the file name letter by letter, but it said it couldn't find the file. Maybe it's not there and I'm just losing my mind.
 
Yah you type ren "file name here"

Do what he said. Type the first couple letters of the file then hit tab and it will autofinish it for you.
 
I tried the rename and delete with the tab, neither worked. This time it did say the file name or extension was too long, so I know i'm not going crazy.
 
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