Deleting Files

[jublee]

Hi all,

Hopefully someone can help with this problem.

Everytime i try to delete a folder/file, it says cannot delete as it's currently in use, close any programs that may be using it then try again.

Nothing's using the selected files to be deleted, i've run adaware & trend online virus, but that's found nothing.

Any ideas why?

[johnnyis42]

there can be a couple reasons for it. personally, when i have seen this exact problem, it is due to video files that have corrupt or incorrect metadata that windows explorer cannot read, but is stuck working on trying to read.

the way i get rid of these files are to open the command prompt (click start, then run, type in "cmd" without quotes and then click ok) and then use the delete command "del" followed by the full path of the file. so, if the file is in a folder on your c drive called downloads, you type in...

del c:\downloads\filename.avi

or whatever the file is called. now, if there is a space in the file name, you will have to put the entire path in quotes, like this...


del "c:\downloads\file name.avi"

after that the file should be gone completely.

[charlielx]

Hi, Have you tried holding down the Ctrl, Alt, Delete keys and bring up Windows Task Manager , and closing as many programs You can.. it works for me when I try to Defrag and it just keep restarting. and when it won't let me delete a file or folder. good luck.

[Bandit B]

Hello there i kinda have the same problem it's just i cannot delete this image. It's impossible i kid you not this image won't be deleted at all. I got it from Winmx ( no one needs to know the content ) but still please can some one help me i think there might be some hidden code or something.

[crossedup]

Hold down the F8 key as you boot the machi e to get into safe mode, it boots with a minimum of drivers and other starting stuff. Theres a better chance you can delete it then.

Shortcut to task manager is ctl,shift,esc at the same time. Maybe you can turn it off there in regular mode as before stated

[pianowizard]

I encountered the same problem today (couldn't delete a folder) and found a solution on Google. Go to the Command prompt. CD to the directory containing the folder to be deleted -- let's call it "junk" -- and then type the following:

rmdir junk /s

I use Windows XP Pro, by the way. More info here: http://www.michna.com/kb/WxCannotDelete.htm