can't remove a file (process)

[lobserve]

I have an application called hardplay.exe running and I can't get rid of it. Norton anitvirus thinks it's spyware but it won't delete the file. It says it's in the windows/repair folder but I don't see it. I checked the folder with DOS and it's not there. I can't even stop the process with the Windows task manager. Ad-Aware does not "find" it either. Please help me get rid of it.

[insanekiwi]

welcome to neowin.

open command prompt, then taskmanager, quit explorer.exe and delete the file. then restart explorer.exe. done

[beh]

Someone please move this thread.

[Chode]

Welcome to Neowin lobserve.

Though may I recommend another section of the forum for this thread.

[Sietse Veteran]

Thread moved to Software Discussion & Assistance.

[lobserve]

The method you gave would work except that I can't find the file "hardplay.exe." It does not show up when I use search and it doesn't appear to be in the folder that Norton says it's in (yes, I have the search set to show all files). How can I find this file or the one that is creating the process "hardplay.exe?" Thanks in advance.

[Bearded Kirklander]

You could go get a copy of Bart's PE Builder and make yourself a bootable CD. It makes Win XP boot in a self-contained environment right off that CD, freeing up the C: drive from any "holds" and letting you get rid of the files.

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

If you know what folder it is in (the hardplay file) you could delete the whole folder, provided nothing else important is in it. If you can't find the path, you could (while still booted into your normal Win XP environment) search the registry for the file name to locate where it executes from and also try removing the registry entry for that file.

Alternatively, you could use a boot floppy and command-line stuff to find the file and delete it.

Best of luck.

[CdCViRus]

make sure windows is showing "protected operating system files"

alternatively, do as insanekiwi suggested, but before the

del hardplay.exe command, run

attrib -s -h hardplay.exe

[The Burning Rom]

Once you locate it you can use the text posted below to remove it. Just replace the path currently in the file with the path for the exe. Then paste it into a notepad document and save it as remove.bat

It's a quck way to get rid of almost any file that windows refuses to remove. :rolleyes:

  Quote

@echo off

SET FILE=sqll

echo y | cacls C:\WINDOWS\bxxs5.dll /g Everyone:f

attrib -r -s -h C:\WINDOWS\bxxs5.dll

ren C:\WINDOWS\bxxs5.dll bxxs5.old

del C:\WINDOWS\bxxs5.old