Is there such a thing as an unconditional delete utility?

[Doomer]

If there isn't, Why not?

I occasionally run across a file that's impossible to delete because it's being used by a program or just a plain old access is denied. I have seen some with screwy names that couldn't be deleted but haven't seen one of those in a while.


I have one now that's a zero byte file that's supposedly in use by another program. It's not malware or a virus, nor is it in use by another program. It simply has some flag set that's not supposed to be set. I'd like to get rid of it.

Thanks

 

[xcript]

You could install something like WhoLockMe and see what's actually locking the file.

Then just kill it -> delete file. 🙂

I generally find, though, that booting into safe-mode will allow me to delete a file that doesn't want to die.

 

[Doomer]

Thanks, I tried it and it did nothing. I assume you need to run it from a command prompt since the file name has to be part of the command line. I did this and it returned nothing.

 

[xcript]

Originally posted by: Doomer
Thanks, I tried it and it did nothing. I assume you need to run it from a command prompt since the file name has to be part of the command line. I did this and it returned nothing.

For installing/running WhoLockMe? Follow the Install.txt then right click on a locked file -> click 'WhoLockMe?'

 

[mikecel79]

Another good program is Sysinternal's Process Explorer. Just search for the file handle that you can't delete and kill the process attached. You should be able to delete after that. I haven't found a single file I can't delete using this.

 

[Doomer]

Thanks, Install text didn't say anything about adding it to the right click menu, LOL.

It said explorer.exe had it locked so I was able to delete it from the command prompt.

I'll check out process explorer, Thanks.