Can't delete a file..

Marius Fett · 01-04-2009, 09:21 AM

I downloaded a file earlier, and i've now decided I don't need it. It's on my desktop, and every time I try to delete it, it says that the file can't be deleted because it's being used by another program..

I've tried restarting, i've tried restoring to a point before I got the file, and STILL it won't let me delete the file.

Any suggestions?

*tk102* · 01-04-2009, 10:37 AM

Can you rename it? If so, do that and then restart. You should be able to delete it afterward.

If that doesn't work, you might look do a Start: Run: msconfig and see if you can find the program that is launching during startup that is using it. Then disable that program, then delete the file after restarting.

Marius Fett · 01-04-2009, 11:06 AM

Nope, can't rename it.

Edit:

Nope, I can't find any program using it. This is REALLY annoying..

*tk102* · 01-04-2009, 03:39 PM

Try booting to safe mode.

Marius Fett · 01-04-2009, 03:42 PM

Tried booting into Safe Mode, but I still couldn't delete it, or find anything that uses it..

Astrotoy7 · 01-06-2009, 08:39 AM

lolz.. Marius, you do keep us busy!

Try these (in order)
1. Download and deploy the take ownership registry key

2. make sure you have filetypes visible. eg. marius.doc (do this from folder and search options)

3. Once youve done the above > R click the file > click 'take ownership' ( a little cmd line window will flash) then rename to Marius.doc.bak. > reboot > delete.

This only usually happens with system or corrupted files - what do you have?

mtfbwya

Marius Fett · 01-06-2009, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astrotoy7

lolz.. Marius, you do keep us busy!

Try these (in order)
1. Download and deploy the take ownership registry key

2. make sure you have filetypes visible. eg. marius.doc (do this from folder and search options)

3. Once youve done the above > R click the file > click 'take ownership' ( a little cmd line window will flash) then rename to Marius.doc.bak. > reboot > delete.

This only usually happens with system or corrupted files - what do you have?

mtfbwya

I try my best Astro..

I'll give what you've suggested a try..

Cheers.

Marius Fett · 01-08-2009, 04:13 PM

Eich, update..

I installed that registry thingy..

It still wouldn't give me the oppurtunity to take ownership through the r-click menu, so I went into properties, etc etc and did it there.

I still couldn't rename OR delete..

(And the ownership key thing DOES work, as i've tried it on other files, this one I can't delete is the only one it won't appear for.)

Astrotoy7 · 01-09-2009, 07:55 PM

OK

Try this applet called 'Take Control' Unzip contents of the zip archive to a folder and run. It will indicate whether you are running with appropriate admin priveleges. Sounds like a permissions gripe going on under the hood. I use this to bust into windows system files all the time. BTW, what error message is it giving you??

mtfbwya

Marius Fett · 01-10-2009, 05:01 AM

^Ok, i'll try that.

The message is just your everyday "You cannot delete this file because it is still in use".

Astrotoy7 · 01-12-2009, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marius Fett

^Ok, i'll try that.

The message is just your everyday "You cannot delete this file because it is still in use".

lolz, thats a remarkably stubborn file. That type of error message usually disappears after a reboot. What type of file is it? .doc image etc?

mtfbwya

Marius Fett · 01-13-2009, 06:06 PM

Indeed. It's really strarting to tick me off..

That take control thing got me nowhere.. It's a .exe

urluckyday · 01-13-2009, 07:08 PM

Just a quick question, are you able to cut/paste it anywhere?

(this happened to me and I was able to cut/paste "in use" file and put it on a flash drive and then i just formatted the flash drive...worked for me...)

Sorry I can't help anymore though...best of luck!

Det. Bart Lasiter · 01-13-2009, 07:25 PM

install linux problem solved

*tk102* · 01-13-2009, 07:59 PM

I have a way you can kill that file.

First take note of what the file is named, since you'll need to type it later.

1. Download the ISO image of the Ultimate Boot CD and burn the image to a CD.
2. Boot up with that CD. Press Enter when it prompts you to boot from CD.
3. Under Filesystem Tools: File Tools, run D-Browse.
3a. As this starts up, it will prompt your for a number of settings. The ones that you want to change are Enable LFN support and Enable NTFS support.
Make sure both get toggled. (up arrow and then space bar to toggle)
4. When D-Browse starts up, it will ask you press the letter of your hard drive. That's probably C. When you type it, D-Browse will start building a big file tree of your hard disk. This will take a little time.
5. When it's done, press F3 to search for a file. Choose N for Not Case Sensitive and then type the file's name and enter to search.
6. When it finds it (should be C:\Documents and settings\<your name>\Desktop\), click on the highlighted path with your mouse and you'll jump to that part of the tree.
7. Finally, press F5 to delete the file. Eject the disk and reboot.

urluckyday · 01-13-2009, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmac7142

install linux problem solved

No because then instead of a problem file on your hands, you've got a bad OS on your hands *prepares for flame wars*

Q · 01-14-2009, 03:00 AM

I guess that .exe is running on its own which is why you can't delete it. Depending on your OS (not sure whether it works with Vista), you might be able to use a handy little freeware program called WTF to kill it so that you can then delete it. It can also provide some useful information on the file itself. I've been using this program for years so I know that it's safe and effective as long as you don't try to kill the wrong .exe.

@tk: That boot CD rocks!

Marius Fett · 01-14-2009, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jmac

install linux problem solved

That might not be such a bad idea actually..

Quote:

Originally Posted by urluckyday

No because then instead of a problem file on your hands, you've got a bad OS on your hands *prepares for flame wars*

Linux is only a bad OS f you don't take the time to learn how to use it.

@tk: Ooh, thanks! I'll try Q's approach first though, as it seems less fiddly.

Astrotoy7 · 01-15-2009, 06:04 PM

still not fixed? wow. are you sure its not malware?

as for Linux... someone elsewhere once described it perfectly

Linux is only free if your time has no value.

mtfbwya

*tk102* · 01-15-2009, 06:11 PM

Hard to believe this thread is still active after this long.

Marius, if the operating system keeps getting in the way, go around it. The UBCD is a pretty simple way of doing just that.

Astrotoy7 · 01-16-2009, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk102

Marius, if the operating system keeps getting in the way, go around it. The UBCD is a pretty simple way of doing just that.

Marius special combination of bad luck and reckless endeavour is what keeps getting in the way

Lets hope this issue is fixed

edit: is that really what tk stands for ?? I thought it was a nod to stormtrooper designations, or am I being too "star warsy" again

mtfbwya

Marius Fett · 01-16-2009, 01:04 PM

@tk: Looks like i'll have to.

@Astro: It's true... I just don't seem to have much luck when it comes to that laptop...

And I don't think it's Malware, i've scanned it with both Norton and Avast!, and they both say it's clean..

Astrotoy7 · 01-28-2009, 09:48 PM

Marius... how did this adventure end?! Dont leave us on a cliffhanger ending, like when Picard became Locutus

mtfbwya

Marius Fett · 01-29-2009, 12:22 PM

Solved.

Thanks to tk.

I shall be more careful of what I D/L in future...

Astrotoy7 · 02-01-2009, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marius Fett

I shall be more careful of what I D/L in future...

Now theres an understatement

UBCD for teh win

until the next time Marius blows something up...

mtfbwya

Marius Fett · 02-02-2009, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astro

until the next time Marius blows something up...

You could have just said "see you in half an hour..."

Honestly, I wouldn't have been offended.