HELP...stubborn file..:(:(

[ludacriz]

Hi, I came home today to find an .exe file on my desktop..i scanned the file for viruses and found it to be free of them. I tried to delete it but it says it is being used by another process. I also tried this in safe mode..but to no avail..When i click on it..it says it is not a valid Win32 application..Please help me as it has an obscene filename..which I do not want my kids to see..thanks

 

[Harvey]

You may be able to delete it from the command line. Start - Run - CMD. Go to the directory (folder) where the file is located. Then, at the command line, type:

DELTREE/Y [file name].

If you still cannot delete the file, boot into safe mode, and try the same command.

Good luck.

 

[nweaver]

it's filename is too long. Try renaming it to nothing.111 and then delete it. If it won't, then you can boot into the recovery console and try it there.

 

[BadThad]

Originally posted by: ludacriz
Hi, I came home today to find an .exe file on my desktop..i scanned the file for viruses and found it to be free of them. I tried to delete it but it says it is being used by another process. I also tried this in safe mode..but to no avail..When i click on it..it says it is not a valid Win32 application..Please help me as it has an obscene filename..which I do not want my kids to see..thanks

If it's an unexplained running process, then it's got to be either a virus or malware related....especially since it's in the desktop folder. Did you try killing the process in task manager first?

A useful tool for killing/exploring processes is:
Process Explorer

You should also closely inspect your start-up configuration, use Start>Run>msconfig. If you're not sure what is what, post all the start-up processes here and someone will help ID the garbage. Or, even better, run Hijack This and post the log here.

 

[ludacriz]

Hi, thanks for all of your replies. I found an article on CNET explaining how to remove the file from command prompt, and it worked! Thanks again