can't delete file in windows xp

[spfdz]

There's a folder with a couple files in it I wanted to delete.

Error I'm getting is access denied.

Ok, I've tryed the following.

1. Restarted computer, tryed to delete as soon as I got in. - doesn't work

2. Boot into safe mode, tryed to delete file. - doesn't work

3. Tryed to delete single files in the folder - doesn't work

4. Tryed to delete the whole folder - doesn't work

5. Tryed third party software to delete the folder (MoveOnBoot) - doesn't work

6. Tryed to rename the files in the phone - wouldn't work

7. Tryed deleting through cmd with /q /s flags - doesn't work (access denied)

8. Started running checkdisk, but at 4/5 I think it stopped or it took too long so I canceled it.

9. used killbox

I can rename the folder that contains all the files but that's about it.

The folder holds about 10gigs, that's why I pretty much wanna get rid of it.

Also, it's a slave drive. 120gig Seagate.

[ring0]

tried booting with something like knoppix or a windows-based bootcd and deleting it that way?

[permissionToExterminate]

Press delete for a file and the confirmation dialog appears. Wait from 10 secs to a minute and after that press ok. Works for me.

This could also be a sign of the HD getting corrupted or some serious malfunction. My external Lacie HD first had these symptoms and they got worse and after two weeks the HD was totally ruined.

[Daninku]

  permissionToExterminate said:

Press delete for a file and the confirmation dialog appears. Wait from 10 secs to a minute and after that press ok. Works for me.

This could also be a sign of the HD getting corrupted or some serious malfunction. My external Lacie HD first had these symptoms and they got worse and after two weeks the HD was totally ruined.

585390022[/snapback]

Oh.. this is new for me :huh: fortunately not happening for me :D

[+primortal Subscriber²]

Take a look at Process Explorer (http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/procexp.shtml). You might be able to see what has that file locked.

[spfdz]

not sure how to use knoppix

but Im assuming you mean like a win98 boot disk.

I'm gonna assume that if it doesn't work in command, it won't work in that aswell

gonna get seagate software to diagnose if there's a problem or not

[sin-ergy]

haha i hate it when that happens! :D i usually just end-task explorer, bring up a cmd prompt and delete it that way.

[leesmithg]

->>Here<<-

->>Download Freeware Version<<-

[crackhbob]

Ditto

[spfdz]

  leesmithg said:

->>Here<<-

->>Download Freeware Version<<-

585390045[/snapback]

ive tryed that already..

[onex]

The most common reason for not being able to delete a file is it's probably being used by a process and cannot be deleted until the process frees the file. I use a utility called WhoLockMe which flags up the process locking the file and shows an option to terminate the process to free up the file. This works for me 99% of the time. Failing that, download MoveOnBoot which allows you to flag a file for deletion next time your computer reboots. However, I've only ever had to use this once. Good luck!

[ring0]

  spfdz said:

I'm gonna assume that if it doesn't work in command, it won't work in that aswell

585390038[/snapback]

perhaps, perhaps not. since knoppix doesn't touch anything on your harddrive and isn't windows-based, there's pretty much a 0.00% chance that anything will be accessing/using the folder and you should be able to delete it pretty easily.

as for how to use it... it's not rocket science. downloading the .iso will probably take longer than the deletion process.

[spfdz]

Well I ran the Seagate Diagnostics Utility and it ends up the physical hard drive is ok, but I failed the part that said

"File Structure Test"

"Failed with Critical Errors"

Could this tie into the problem?

Aswell, is there any way to fix this?

[AV0X]

Is it a porn file? (seriously)

[nathanrosa]

you can delete properly in safe mode cant you?

[Xerus]

I had a problem like this, I couldnt delete some .exes of DOS games I had...

I went into the task manager, and ended explorer. Afterwards, I opened up a command prompt and deleted the offending files that way.

I dont know if this will work for you, since you want to get rid of an entire folder O_o

[sin-ergy]

  AV0X said:

Is it a porn file? (seriously)

585390568[/snapback]

hehe. yeah he never told us what type of folder/files. in most cases the file is locked by explorer. if the explorer end task i mentioned above does not work, it's obviously being locked by some other process :p

[AV0X]

  Xerus said:

I had a problem like this, I couldnt delete some .exes of DOS games I had...

I went into the task manager, and ended explorer.  Afterwards, I opened up a command prompt and deleted the offending files that way.

I dont know if this will work for you, since you want to get rid of an entire folder O_o

585390601[/snapback]

How do you delete files with command prompt?

[spfdz]

  AV0X said:

Is it a porn file? (seriously)

585390568[/snapback]

No not porn.

Couple exe files and iso images I made of my games.

And as for safe mode. Although it seems your trying to help, you should at least read the first post throughly. (points at#2)

EDIT: Deleting files with command prompt.

"del" or "rmdir"

in command prompt, use del /? and rmdir /? before actually using it so you don't screw something up..

[interested]

i have been asked this several times, and every time the following method works.

ok do the following exactly as i am about to tell you, and your problems should be gone.

this is assuming no other program is keeping your files open, and that its windows that is just acting up.

1. ctrl alt del, then in task manager, right click on explorer.exe and terminate it. (your desktop icons will dissapear, that is normal)

2. Now MAKE SURE, you dont close task manager. keep it open.

3. go to file, then run and type cmd

4. now go to your file that you want to delete and delete it in dos. ( from your previous posts i assume you know how to use dos)

5. when you are done close command prompt.

6. go back to task manager and file, then run, and type explorer

7. your desktop should re-appear, and now you can close task manager.

this works almost every time. Hope it helps you.

This seems to be a common enough problem in windows xp, since i have been asked this question several times by people i know, and i have experienced it myself on a few computers. In my experience, this has nothing to do with bad harddrive etc.. it seems to be somthing corrupt in windows, and tends to happen on old installations which have been heavilly used.

[insanekiwi]

  interested said:

i have been asked this several times, and every time the following method works.

ok do the following exactly as i am about to tell you, and your problems should be gone.

this is assuming no other program is keeping your files open, and that its windows that is just acting up.

1. ctrl alt del, then in task manager, right click on explorer.exe and terminate it. (your desktop icons will dissapear, that is normal)

2. Now MAKE SURE, you dont close task manager. keep it open.

3. go to file, then run and type cmd

4. now go to your file that you  want to delete and delete it in dos. ( from your previous posts i assume you know how to use dos)

5. when you are done close command prompt.

6. go back to task manager and file, then run, and type explorer

7. your desktop should re-appear, and now you can close task manager.

this works almost every time. Hope it helps you.

This seems to be a common enough problem in windows xp, since i have been asked this question several times by people i know, and i have experienced it myself on a few computers. In my experience, this has nothing to do with bad harddrive etc.. it seems to be somthing corrupt in windows, and tends to happen on old installations which have been heavilly used.

585395842[/snapback]

yep, that's my preferred method aswell ;)