CANNOT DELETE FILE message

[ray1inJT]

using XP Pro.
Saved a JPG e-mail attachment to my desktop. Opened it, then eventually deleted it.
A 2nd FILE of the same name remained on my Desktop. Cannot delete it, can not move it, or rename it.
Under file type, it is listed as FILE. It is listed as "0" bytes. The word EVERYTHING is part of the file's name. I entered the registry and removed the entries [it was easy to search for "EVERYTHING".].
I tried SAFE mode; no luck. I entered CMD, and switched to the DESKTOP Folder, and tried DIR and DIR /X. The file does not appear that way.
If I try to move, rename or delete, from the Desktop, or desktop folder, in safe or normal mode, same message: Cannot delete [move/rename] file: Cannot read from the sorce file or disk.
I CAN change what to open the file with, but no matter what type of program I use to open, it says that the file cannot be found. . [That makes sense, as it is listed as 0 bytes]
Any idea as to how/why this was created, and how to get rid of it?
Thanks!

 

[lozina]

sounds pretty weird! Some things I might try would be scandisk to check HD for errors, boot into dos prompt using real DOS disks or even the boot disks you can create by windows and try deleting the file via that dos prompt (not the dos prompt after you already booted up under windows) and finally if those fail maybe a defrag of the disk or download one of the HD diagnostic tools from your HD manufacturer and run their more specialized diagnostic tests

edit: just one other thing: do you have an antivirus program that might have inncoulated this file? and does the file have any attributes assigned like read only? actually look into these two things first

 

[Atheus]

Possible virus/malware. Run every scan you can think of - online antivirus scans like panda, microsoft antispyware, adaware, spybot...

If no luck, boot another operating system and delete it from there. These days this means Linux, probably knoppix live cd, but if you are not using NTFS and you happen to have DOS lying around you could use that.

 

[randomint]

Try this:

1) Close ALL programs
2) Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete (Task Manager) and end the "explorer.exe" process
3) Go to File -> New Task(Run) and type "cmd"
4) Then go to the directory of the file and delete it (del filename.ext)

lemme know if this works

if the file is hidden and you can't see it in DOS then type in "dir/ah" and you will see it.

 

[ray1inJT]

To the other responers: Spybot, Ad-Aware, and Norton. All negative.
All-stage scandisk revealed no errors. I had already emptied all TEMP files/folders; including content.ie5. Thanks for your thoughts.
To randomint:
A step in the correct direction. Been years...had forgotten about the /a command.
With the /a, you were correct, I can see it.
With dir /x /a, I can see it with the short file name. HOWEVER, to 'del', it seems you need an extension for the file. This does not have an extension [such as control panel contro~1.LNK has the .lnk]
When I type in the DEL command, it says that the file can not be found.
Stopping the Explorer.exe didn't do it either.
Any other thoughts?
Ray

 

[randomint]

After closing explorer.exe, the only thing that should be open is the task manager and the command windor. when you type 'del' in the command prompt, press TAB and it will cycle through the files that are in the folder. keep hitting tab until you are at the file that you want to delete.

leave a space after 'del' and then press tab.

with this method, you don't have to bother with typing the file name. there are shortcuts too like type "del t" and then pressing tab. the computer will then cycle through the file names beginning with "t".

 

[w3stfa11]

Try this.
http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/

 

[sourceninja]

you can boot into recovery mode and delete it.

 

[Atheus]

Originally posted by: ray1inJT
Norton.

Ah. Most likely the cause of the problem - I'd remove it.

 

[brentman]

As posted above, I've been able to delete anything after using Unlocker. Great little program.

 

[ray1inJT]

Well, guys: thanks to all!
The winner is the UNLOCKER program.
Thought it was going to fail, as, the first report page stated that the file isn't lokced.
I clicked next...had the option to move, rename and delete.
Don't think I'll ever know how or why it was there...
again, many thanks!
Ray

 

[KillyKillall]

Originally posted by: randomint
Try this:

1) Close ALL programs
2) Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete (Task Manager) and end the "explorer.exe" process
3) Go to File -> New Task(Run) and type "cmd"
4) Then go to the directory of the file and delete it (del filename.ext)

lemme know if this works

if the file is hidden and you can't see it in DOS then type in "dir/ah" and you will see it.

I'll bet anything if you did this right it would have worked.

 

[w3stfa11]

Originally posted by: ray1inJT
Well, guys: thanks to all!
The winner is the UNLOCKER program.
Thought it was going to fail, as, the first report page stated that the file isn't lokced.
I clicked next...had the option to move, rename and delete.
Don't think I'll ever know how or why it was there...
again, many thanks!
Ray

Do I get a beer?

 

[randomint]

Originally posted by: KillyKillall

Originally posted by: randomint
Try this:

1) Close ALL programs
2) Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete (Task Manager) and end the "explorer.exe" process
3) Go to File -> New Task(Run) and type "cmd"
4) Then go to the directory of the file and delete it (del filename.ext)

lemme know if this works

if the file is hidden and you can't see it in DOS then type in "dir/ah" and you will see it.

I'll bet anything if you did this right it would have worked.

ha ha yes i know. I have never had anyone fail to delete a file with this method. Hey ray, let me know one more time if you followed the steps perfectly.

 

[randomint]

btw, doesn't the unlocker program do the exact same thing as I outlined in the steps?

 

[xtknight]

I believe Unlocker traverses all NT file handles and closes them as necessary. What randomint said kills only Explorer, effectively killing all its file handles (which typically include libraries and shell extensions such as spyware). Something other than Explorer had a handle on it.