Unable to Delete File in XP

[magusmax]

okay this one has me stomped. I have booted in too safe mode and I am still unable to delete this mp3, I have tried program that deletes the file on booting. The problem is that it tells me that the file can't be found - so windows won't delete it and neither this program. It doesn't give me the option to delete or go into properties when I right click on it.

any ideas would be really great.

[LLXX]

chkdsk the driv3. The directory entry may b3 invalid.

[oldwolf]

There is a little program called unlocker. (I think its up to version 1.7 atm)

This should allow you to "unlock" the file from the service that is holding it open, and allow you to delete it.

Just do a search on MSFN forums and I think there is a link on here somewhere.

Just found the thread, so I'll try to post it HERE

Hope I got it right.

Edited April 23, 2006 by oldwolf

[boooggy]

unlocker is at version 1.8.1 and is a great program. try it and see....

[kso]

yes..get help by unlocker.

[cluberti]

If the file really is there (and I'd bet it is), the easiest thing to do would be to simply boot a Windows XP CD and go into the recovery console - delete the file from there (offline NTFS access).

[nolim]

I support cluberti.

The error message indicate that the file was not found.

Try booting from Dos, xp console...

The idea is to try diffrent OS, that will maybe handle this lost file\sectors better.

Edited April 23, 2006 by nolim

[Andromeda43]

I'd have to be skeptical of that file being totally un-deleteable.

Because, I've never found a file that was not part of the OS that could not be deleted.

Before grabbing for the Linux Boot disk, Knoppix or BartsPE CD, I think I'd play around with it for a bit first.

In SAFE mode, try checking the properties of the file to see what attributes it has. Remove them all.

Then try again to delete it. Try moving it.

If it still won't go away, try renaming the extension to something other than mp3.

If that worked, try deleting it again.

Then try Unlocker or KillBox.

I have found in the past where a file name had hidden characters in it, making it undeleteable.

I was able to use Deltree.exe to delete the file in DOS after removing the other files from the folder and just taking out the remaining folder with the one bad file in it.

Failing everything else in my above list of things to try, I'd grab for the old BartsPE CD.

I just love the challenge of "the non-removable file". There's no such thing, really.

Good Luck,

Andromeda