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How to delete a file that won't delete?

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17 replies

by dondinger

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.
Sounds pretty basic but I have this file on my desktop that I have tried to delete for weeks and always get the dialog box that says the file is being used. It's not. Any suggestions?

17 replies

by older mycroft

It's just that you are not aware of where it is being used.

You won't get much out of ME or any other Peer if you don't tell us what this file is called or what type of file it is.

Guessing games are all well and good and can on occasions be quite fun, but we're not stuck in a lift or a traffic jam so, let's have some more details.

It would also be helpful to know what make and model of computer you have and what operating system you are currently using. :)

by .martin.

Unless dondinger has been stupid enough to move important operating files around, (which he most likely did not, hopefully) it can just sometimes be copies of important operating files. so in most cases, True Blue's suggestion of Remove on reboot is perfectly fine.

by jdclyde

and you will see that this happened to me not long ago. One of my boys was tricked into downloading and running something he shouldn't have.

The name of the file meant nothing "new.exe" and there was nothing VISIBLE in the startup that could find it.

I had run every AV/Malware/Rootkit detector I could, and they didn't find anything.

bootremove kicked it's a$$. thanks again tb. :D

A side note, THAT system is the system I am referring to in the "How long will it be before Linux is on your desktop (if it isn't already)?"
https://www.techrepublic.com.com/5208-12852-0.html?forumID=102&threadID=265463

B-)

by rob miners

It looks like it is a pretty persuasive little piece of software. It did the trick for him. ;)

by dondinger

Thanks to all. I told you it sounded pretty bush league. The file is a zip data file I downloaded( recipes), not important anything!
I am going to try your suggestion and will get back.
Thanks again.

by dondinger

Great solution. Will keep this app handy.
Thanks again.

by .martin.

ended up reinstalling windows (again...). if it does it again, i'm going to take it to get fixed by someone else...

by rob miners

for you to get a copy of Acronis and create A recovery Partition. Seven minutes and you are up and running again. Setup the PC the way that you want it and then Boot with the Acronis CD and create your Recovery Partition, restart the PC and boot back into Acronis and back up your Drive. Great for Virus removal. ;)

< another thought >

Get youself a copy of RegSnap: Registry Analyzer, Registry Tracer
http://lastbit.com/regsnap/default.asp

Take a snapshot of when it is working and if you have problems again take another and compare them. ;)

by computercookie

delete virus files that can't be removed by reputable security products.

Restart in safe mode, command line only and navigate to desktop and deltete the file!!

by jdclyde

I had this problem not long ago, and I even booted to a livecd and tried it, but no deal.

The utility TB linked to took it out with no problem.

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