How do I delete a file in safe mode using the dos prompt?

[BroadbandGamer]

I've got a file on my desktop that I can not delete. I've tried deleting it every way I can think of but it keeps saying it can't be deleted because it's in use. Even in safe mode I can't delete it. Can anyone help me out? The file is WorldPokerChampionship-dem.exe. I downloaded it to try out the game and now I can't delete this thing. :|

 

[Infohawk]

What version of windows are you using? 'del' is the command in xp.

Are you using fat or ntfs? Filemon from sysinternals might be a free app that could tell you which app you are using. I'd run the task manager and kill all unusual tasks then try again.

 

[BroadbandGamer]

I'm using windows xp and ntfs.

This is the first time I haven't been able to delete a file even in safe mode.

Which program in task manager do I need to leave running?

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: BroadbandGamer
I'm using windows xp and ntfs.

This is the first time I haven't been able to delete a file even in safe mode.

Since it's NTFS I guess you can't use knoppix to delete it. Anyway, sounds like you need to use a utility like filemon to see what process is using that file, then kill it and delete the file.

 

[BroadbandGamer]

I downloaded filemon. Now how do I use it?

 

[BroadbandGamer]

I finally managed to delete that little POS. I used that filemon program and it was using explore.exe. I couldn't shut down explore.exe using task manager without screwing everything up. What I did was rebooted into safe mode with the dos prompt. I then used the command del desktop\worldpokerchampionship-dm.exe and it worked!

Man that was strange.

BTW, thanks for the help infohawk!

 

[Infohawk]

If you are in safe mode, you should run filemon and do file > capture events. Hopefully, you should see something attempting to use that file. Maybe try deleting the file while filemon is running. I would also try using the task manager and looking for unusual processes if filemon doesn't spot it being used. Odds are it would be some odd process using that file...