I can't delete a file.

#1 PzNguyen

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Posted 25 October 2008 - 07:49 PM

my brother put a game installer on my computer from a temperamental hardrive.

the file wouldn't work, so we tried to delete it.

when we tried to delete it it says: file is in use, turn off programs that may be using it etc etc

we tried restarting the computer, tried safe mode, system restore

none of it worked

and we are fairly certain it is not in use by any programs.

the file takes about 4 GB

if anyone has any ideas how to get rid of this file, I will greatly apreciate it. =(

This post has been edited by PzNguyen: 25 October 2008 - 07:50 PM

#2 m0le

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Posted 25 October 2008 - 09:03 PM

Have you tried to find the program in add/remove and uninstall it from there?

Have a look at this tutorial.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/delete-rename-locked-files-folders-in-windows/

This post has been edited by m0le: 25 October 2008 - 09:07 PM

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#3 PzNguyen

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Posted 25 October 2008 - 09:38 PM

oh my god thank you so much!

#4 rowal5555

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Posted 25 October 2008 - 11:47 PM

Hi PzNguyen

Just for your info - NEVER try to delete a program from Program Files. You could really damage your computer. Installed programs must be uninstalled, and a better alternative to Add/Remove is REVO Uninstaller

http://www.revouninstaller.com/revo_uninst...e_download.html

BUT: be warned that Revo shows a lot more detail, SO, be absolutely sure you know what you are removing.

Cheers

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#5 PzNguyen

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Posted 26 October 2008 - 12:03 AM

thanks, but it wasn't an installed program, just a zip file. I used the unlocker to get rid of it.

anyone who's reading this know how to get rid of "corrupt" files? I didn't think that i should make a new topic that's so simlilar.

in this case, the file is a folder filled with videos

#6 rowal5555

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Posted 26 October 2008 - 02:01 AM

You should have no problem simply deleting them either individually or as the complete folder.

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#7 m0le

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Posted 26 October 2008 - 04:46 AM

First try and remove the folder by right clicking it and deleting then reboot the PC. If it has returned you've got a stubborn one.

Rowal is right that a normal folder or file is easy to remove but in some cases (often with malware or corrupted good programs) you need to find a file killer.

There are a few powerful programs which can remove stubborn files which either are made to be difficult to remove or have become more tricky to shift because maybe the uninstaller has been deleted by the user randomly removing some of the associated files instead of the whole folder.

It's worth noting that these programs are dangerous to users if not used correctly.

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#8 PzNguyen

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Posted 26 October 2008 - 10:23 AM

I've already tried deleting it... sorry if i didnt make that clear =p
I tried everything that I had tried on the "file in use" file

its not a program, its a file filled with videos, and its on an external harddrive, so I dont think i need to worry about messing up my computer

but to be on the safe side, Do you have any recomendation for that file killer?

Edit: tried a file killer, it couldnt do it either =(

This post has been edited by PzNguyen: 26 October 2008 - 11:14 AM

#9 m0le

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Posted 26 October 2008 - 11:33 AM

Post the file name and the filepath. Let's see if it's a nasty

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#10 rowal5555

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Posted 26 October 2008 - 04:53 PM

Personally, I use ERASER. If it can't get at a file, it usually can at startup on reboot.

http://www.heidi.ie/node/6

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#11 PzNguyen

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Posted 26 October 2008 - 05:22 PM

tried eraser and it didnt work either =(

i should go more indepth

the file is a folder on a hardrive that has been signifigantly bumped into something at one time or another

the folder used to house about 70 gigs worth of .AVI files

now when you access the folder, it appears empty, and yet there is still no extra free space on the harddrive

When I try to delete it in one way or another it will say "Cant delete, the directory is not empty" and ill occasionaly get a popup bubble saying that it's corrupt.

the folder is just F:\Shows

#12 m0le

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Posted 26 October 2008 - 05:39 PM

I wonder if you can move the folder?

If so, cut and paste the folder from its current drive position to a C drive folder like My Documents and then right-click delete on the "Shows" folder . Sometimes moving it works.

If you can't move it then we'll try something else.

This post has been edited by m0le: 26 October 2008 - 05:42 PM

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#13 PzNguyen

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Posted 26 October 2008 - 08:16 PM

cant move

#14 rowal5555

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Posted 27 October 2008 - 01:46 AM

Just for interest, have you tried looking at the contents of the hard drive with Sequoia View?
http://w3.win.tue.nl/nl/onderzoek/onderzoe...n/sequoiaview//

Mousing over any of the boxes will give you the full file path to it which can be quite handy.

This post has been edited by rowal5555: 27 October 2008 - 01:48 AM