Undeletable files? Win XP Pro

[Paperlantern]

OK, its kinda irritating me. i have a couple large files IN XP Pro that wont delete. they are an incomplete downloaded file from WinMX, and another complete downloaded file. both are quite large, and very time i go to delete them, move them, rename them, anything that would trigger a file sharing violation, thats what i get, a file sharing violation... pops up the message anothe ruser or program is using this file, close any programs yadda yadda...

i've closed any and all programs i can, ended all processes i can... i have nothing in startup... turned of the pc, and started again, even logged in under another user, same error, i'm stumped

on an off chance... ran adaware 6, and norton system works 2003, removed all stuff, and fixed all errors i can... still stumped

any ideas?

 

[bozo1]

AVI files perhaps?

There's an easier way but I forget. Do a search and you'll find it.

What I do is open a command window, change to the directory where the file is. Bring up task manager and end the explorer process. (not iexplore) LEAVE task manager open.
Delete the file. From Task Manager, do File, New Task and type in explorer. You may need to reboot to get your antivirus and all that stuff going again.

Basically the problem is with XP's file preview feature.

 

[Paperlantern]

haha, yes avi files... i was able to delete a couple, but those two still remain, one incmplete and one complete, they will not be deleted... and i tried your teqnique, and thought it was going to work, but the file names are so long, with spaces, it jsut says it cant find the file... thanks for the advice, thats a tequnique i will use in other cases though, but here it doesnt seem to help i will search though

 

[Nothinman]

Put quotes around the filename or use wildcards.

 

[Joshaze]

Here's you answer

 

[Jon187]

If it is a fat32 drive, go to DOS and do it from there.

Jon...

 

[err]

go to your dos prompt, do a dir -x on the directory. This will show the real name of the file. Do a delete from the DOS prompt.

Good luck.

err

 

[spyordie007]

Originally posted by: Joshaze
Here's you answer