Can't delete file!

[philmcneal]

I downloaded a file and put it on my desktop, but I decided I didn't want that file anymore so I canceled the download with firefox. Now when I want to delete it, it keeps saying this:

Help! I want to get rid of that icon off my desktop!

[configure Veteran]

Ugkk.. You either have to kill explorer, restart it then delete the file or restart your machine.

[Redestium]

Did you try closing FX and deleting?

[kongit]

open up a new folder and drag the icon into the folder. then delete the icon from there. If it doesn't work you can a) do what is suggested above or b) leave it in the folder.

[Frank]

If nothing else works, boot into safe mode then delete it.

[philmcneal]

i tried them all none work :(

[+allan MVC]

You might want to try downloading and using MoveOnBoot

[Bold_Fortune]

I saved a few ways of removing a stubborn file...but I always try allan's MoveOnBoot suggestion, first.

I always thought this was an interesting way of deleting one of those difficult files. I forget who gave it to me.

Close all open applications. Open a command prompt and navigate to the directory with the offending files. Then open the Task Manager and click on the Processes tab. select "explorer.exe" under Image Name. Click "End Process". That will leave you with only the command prompt and the task manager running. Now at the Command Prompt, its time to delete the file(s). Using the DEL command. Example c:>\movies\DEL movie.avi Now the files are deleted, go to the task manager and click on the Applications tab. Click the "New Task" button. in the dialog, type explorer.exe and click OK.

Here's another way...

Open Task Manager. Under Processes choose explorer.exe Then click on End Process. Click on Applications tab. Then File, New Task (Run...)

Then Browse, to were the file is and delete it. Then click on New Task again, and type in explorer, then click on OK.

And another way...

Try this - Open Notepad. Click on File - Open. Navigate to the file

you want to delete and right-click on it and delete it.

[lnmnky]

I sometime use this method on AVI's files I *cough* found *cough* on the internet.

Use notepad to save a file as the same name as the one you want to delete. So you get a 0 bytes file overwritting the AVI file.

(Making sure you save as "All files" and include the extension)

Then just delete that.

[Bold_Fortune]

That one sounds interesting, lunamonkey. I like it.

This is what I do..

This happens because explorer reads .avi files to preview them, if you want to stop this behavior, go to here: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.avi\shellex\PropertyHandler in the registry. That key should have a default value of {87D62D94-71B3-4b9a-9489-5FE6850DC73E}.

Delete that value and explorer will stop previewing avi files.

Guess this thread proves there is more than one way of deleting a stubborn file.

[sphere]

Go into command promot (Start > Run > command.com) then type:

del /f <path and filename>

and hit enter.

OR

Create a new blank file in the same location (right click > New > text doc or something) then select both of the files and delete them.

Hope that works :)

Edited March 5, 2004 by sphere

[Bold_Fortune]

Man, I'm copying all this good stuff down. Good show.

[Redestium]

Something else that I find useful at times like these.

WhoLockMe.zip

[lnmnky]

What's it do Mav?

And what's the ram footprint like? Does it run as an exe, or part of the system extension?

[ramian]

it runs as a context menu item. if you find a file that is refusing to be deleted, just do a right click, and select WhoLockMe and a window will pop up telling you which program is locking the file and preventing it from being deleted.

cheers!

[Redestium]

it runs as a context menu item. if you find a file that is refusing to be deleted, just do a right click, and select WhoLockMe and a window will pop up telling you which program is locking the file and preventing it from being deleted.

cheers!

Yup. :happy:

[lnmnky]

Ta ram, ta mav.

[The Gauge]

Something else that I find useful at times like these.

Good call, Mav. I've been using this for ages. Most useful.