Cannot delete a file, isnt there a way to through DOS?

[fumbduck]

There is a file that insists it is being used, even after i have closed every process, including system processes and explorer.

I know there is a way to delete anything regardless of use or not through CMD, but im not sure what it is.

"C:\>del filename.rar"

will not work

 

[Tetsuo]

Try rebooting, that should work. As long as it doesnt start up with your OS

 

[Atlantean]

you could have it delete every file with a .rar extention in that folder... what is the exact message, and how big is the .rar and what does it contain, have you tried rebooting yet?

 

[fumbduck]

nope. tried rebooting, tried safe mode.


its a .avi movie file

 

[fumbduck]

i just used rar as the example


yes, anything

 

[UglyCasanova]

If I remember right, in the Software forum under the stickied thread Cool and Uselful programs there is a link to a program that will shut down all non essential tasks. You should run that, then try and delete the file.

 

[Tetsuo]

Check your processes (Assuming your on Windows). Check your startup programs. It has to be piggybacking something.

 

[Eli]

You'll have to boot into safe mode most likely.

 

[fumbduck]

i've done all that. I;ve closed EVERY process and still no luck

 

[fumbduck]

eli, thanks, but reread my first post.

 

[fumbduck]

let me try safemode without networking, maybe that has something to do with it, and i'll delete everything out of mystartup folder

 

[UglyCasanova]

Here it is. Not sure if it will work, but worth a shot.

 

[NuclearFusi0n]

it has to do with stupid windows xp
http://www.dvdrhelp.com/forum/userguides/100406.php

 

[fumbduck]

yep, that did it.

man what a pain in the ass

 

[Snapster]

I had a similar problem like that, windows explorer was trying to read the file to provide a preview icon. All I done was reboot and open up a command prompt straight away.

 

[rockyct]

That's happened to me before but for some reason when I tried to delete the file from the Nero file browser, it worked.

 

[Reel]

Originally posted by: fumbduck
yep, that did it.

man what a pain in the ass

<feels your pain>

 

[Zugzwang152]

hmm i've never come across an instance where a del or ren from the prompt doesnt take care of the problem.

 

[AznMaverick]

what about when you download files that have long filenames and can't delete them in DOS or explorer, what would i have to do to get rid of it?

 

[Double Trouble]

A dos "prompt" is NOT the same as DOS. It's simply a dos emulation provided by Windows. It's still running in Windows, and as such, if Windows is reporting a file as being "in use", going to a dos prompt will not help.

If you boot into real DOS (boot disk or dual boot etc), you can do anything you want to any file you want......

If you've formatted a drive in one of the flavors of NTFS, you can use a utility like NTFSPro (winternals.com) to gain access to files from a true dos boot.

 

[Ornery]

The file C:\WINDOWSWinHlp32.BMK has a DOS file name of WINDOW~1.BMK. It can be blown away at the DOS prompt just like any other, though its attributes may have to be reset.

Edit: A dos "prompt" is NOT the same as DOS.

A DOS prompt straight from bootup is what you want, NOT a DOS prompt with a Windows shell (launching a DOS prompt from within Windows).

 

[MichaelD]

Format c: works well. Guaranteed.

 

[JackBurton]

Great link NuclearFusi0n. Thanks!