Why Can't I Delete This File?

Maybe you could right click and go to properties, change the attributes of the file and make it deletable. Total guess.

I have used this successfully in the past. Check it out. It's free.

FileASSASSIN: Malwarebytes

Of course, this is not an endorsement.

Assuming you are working atop Windows, you cannot delete a file which is being used by another program, because this constitutes what's called "a sharing violation". Along these lines you cannot move or rename it either.

In practical terms, this usually means that your file was "Tagged" by the local Anti-Malware or Anti-Virus system, so once it's under "watch" so-to-speak, Windows assumes it's being used by the Anti-Virus, and wouldn't let you change or delete it.

You either mark it for deletion in the options on your Anti-Virus - or - shut your Anti-Virus down, reboot, delete the file and then re-start your Anti-Virus again.

Did you try

Alt-Cntrl-Del

?

you should be able to force quit

This is a related question: what if you can't see the file to be deleted? Every time I try to delete a certain folder, it refuses because a certain subfolder, which I am also not allowed to delete, is "not empty." As far as I can tell, the subfolder IS empty. I have set the folder options to view hidden files, etc. Nothing shows up.

check the property of the folder, that it is not protected.

also, you may not have the rights to the folder.

This is in direct response to piolec's question. See my statement re: Due diligence. Also, after downloading a new program, I first check to see if there are any updates. Many free programs will usually try to sell you their Pro version, which is often un-needed. Both of these programs work fine with the free version. The nice part of this one, is that after using the built-in uninstaller of the program you're deleting, it identifies any left over registry, sub-folders, or junk files associated with it. You can opt to remove or keep certain files. For instance, if you're reinstalling it because of a problem with it, you can keep your data associated with the original program you're deleting. It is probably too late if you have registry, sub folders, etc., if you didn't use this first.

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Uninstallers/Revo-Uninstaller.shtml

The only endorsement is that they have worked for me.

My mysterious un-deletable folders were not software - just data files, mostly PDFs.

piolenc, try move on boot. In the future try revo uninstaller. Revo uninstaller also has auto startup manager, and some other features you may find useful.

On the top toolbar

FOLDER OPTIONS

SHOW HIDDEN FILES.

John

hi,

I assume you're running on Vista, because I ran across this problem, too.

what I suspect is happening, is that once you click on the folder containing the file, the right-hand pane of WinExplorer shows a thumbnail of the movie, and the icon of the application that can play the movie, for example, DivX. (I will refer to DivX as an example here.)

you said you tried opening it, and it won't play. but actually, DivX, or the default application for mpeg files in your PC, has already tried loading and playing it. even if you close DivX, it is still in memory as a file loaded onto DivX. this is why you can't rename or delete it.

what I've done is I change the view option in WinExplorer into either "List" or "Details" so that no thumbnail of the file is displayed.

then, hit F5 or refresh.

press Ctrl-Alt-Del, and click on "Start Task Manager", and kill the DivX thread / process.

go back to WinExplorer, refresh again, just to be sure. and delete the file.

hope this works for you. it did for me.

-- langyaw

It sounds like it was an incomplete, or corrupted download. What was already said about a file using another program which is running is true.

Here is a program that has worked flawlessly for me with Windows, and saves a lot of time avoiding command line instructions. You can use your search engine to look up "moveonboot" for more instruction, and even forums to see what problems, if any , other's have had using it. I always do this before downloading a suggested program. I've avoided most problems this way. Due diligence!

http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/MoveOnBoot-Download-1398.html

After selecting what you want to delete, in this case an empty file icon on your desktop, the program removes it during reboot, before the other program(s) start up.

Next time you reboot, press F8 (as soon as the PC begins its startup routine.) Press and release (NOT hold down) until you are asked to enter Safe Mode.

Select Safe Mode without network.

Your computer will now boot up with minimal drivers, including video, so your display will look a bit unusual. This minimal state should allow you to delete this file.

For the record, Safe Mode is also the best place to run your Virus / Malware scans. The lack of connectivity prevents thems from doing their nasty deed... although nowadays, these deviants that create have learned how to deliver in this mode too.

Hope it helps... My OCD appreciates having things where they belong.

I agree with the post that windows is trying open the file to dislay a thumbnail or preview. If the file is too large for available ram it could be a problem. I have also had trouble opening video files for editing if they are stored on a drive that has a read time that is too slow.

Windows wouldn't open the whole file to display it's thumbnail, but instead resample it's first frame if it's a video file, or draw the thumbnail from the picture's meta-file.

Many picture-formats have a built-in thumbnail in their meta-file.

I don't know Vista or Windows 7. I'm still using XP. So I don't know if there is still a CMD window in Windows 7. That is supposedly another level where files can be deleted more easily. But there are freeware apps. for deleting files, whether they have sharing violations or not. I don't remember any at the moment, but just look for them.

There is however, another reason why Windows wouldn't delete certain files:

Some media-player or media-processor applications are not designed perfectly, in the sense that once they finished or stopped running your music or movie file, they fail to release their allocated RAM space, back into the control of the operating-system, or for that matter, they may release the space but not register that release to the operating system.

In such an instance, the system assumes that the application still uses that file, and as a result, it may decline a command to delete or sometimes rename it, again, as a type of "sharing- violation"

In such cases the remedy is simply to reboot, and try to delete (or rename - as the case may be) afresh

This problem hasn't happened anytime before ever with me. The files that come from my digicam's card to the comp are always slow or don't open, or in this case don't get deleted either.

Could it be related more to the card of the digicam, than my comp? Because my comp is pretty good, it just doesn't seem to be able to handle the videos (picture/photos are fine) from my digicam.

Not sure why it didn't play, I think I remember you saying it was mpeg. 3,4? In the future you might try right clicking on it, and "open with". Personally, I use VLC for most video.

The problem occured when you tried to delete the file, not all of it was deleted.

Again, Move on Boot, or a similar software will solve your problem simply.