Windows won't delete file

[quina123]

I have this most irritating problem right now, I'm trying to simply delete this file off my desktop, but windows just keeps sitting here saying this:

Anyone know how to solve this?

 

[mikeymikec]

delete it from the command prompt?

Presumably if you reboot you still can't delete it?

Any other weird issues going on with your system?

 

[quina123]

how can I delete it from the command prompt?
No other issues with the system, just this file.

 

[ratjacket]

there is a wee programme called move on boot try that it works when no other method does.

http://emcosoftware.com/move-on-boot

 

[Raizinman]

Try changing the attributes first. Then it might delete.

 

[mikeymikec]

how can I delete it from the command prompt?
No other issues with the system, just this file.

Kids these days

when you open a standard command prompt, you can change the folder it's looking in by typing CD foldername (or CD .. in order to get into the parent folder). If it's on the desktop, you'll probably have to type CD desktop

to delete a single file, you can type in DEL filename

to delete a folder structure, you can type in RMDIR foldername /s /q

Neither command will ask for confirmation, nor will the files go to the recycle bin. At the end of typing each command you have to press the Enter/Return key.

 

[lakedude]

Is it possible that the file is gone and only an artifact remains on the desktop? A simple desktop refresh might clear that up, or a reboot.

If Windows won't delete the file use Linux. Linux is like the Honey Badger, Linux don't care.

 

[Charlie98]

Is it possible that the file is gone and only an artifact remains on the desktop? A simple desktop refresh might clear that up, or a reboot.

If Windows won't delete the file use Linux. Linux is like the Honey Badger, Linux don't care.

That's awesome!!! :thumbsup:

I've got an empty folder that keeps showing up at odd times, it's weird. Search Everything doesn't show it, but all of a sudden... pop!... it shows up from somewhere. I delete it and it goes away... until next time. Maybe I should try the CL delete next time...

 

[Ketchup]

So is it just this file? It is probably in use. What kind of file is it? As said above, a reboot may fix it, if it's isn't being used by a startup program.

 

[Charlie98]

Now that I'm looking at it... the screen shot... it's 0 items,0 bytes. It doesn't exist.

Can you move the file elsewhere?

 

[ArisVer]

Can you move the file elsewhere?

.... move /?

 

[MongGrel]

Kids these days

when you open a standard command prompt, you can change the folder it's looking in by typing CD foldername (or CD .. in order to get into the parent folder). If it's on the desktop, you'll probably have to type CD desktop

to delete a single file, you can type in DEL filename

to delete a folder structure, you can type in RMDIR foldername /s /q

Neither command will ask for confirmation, nor will the files go to the recycle bin. At the end of typing each command you have to press the Enter/Return key.

DOS commands and things like configuring your memory on your own are from the dark ages

I probably forget 75% of what I used to know in that regard these days, to be honest.

 

[mikeymikec]

When explorer.exe goes fubar on a Windows box, it helps to know your way around the command line

 

[Charlie98]

.... move /?

Yes, move the file from your desktop to another drive?

 

[ArisVer]

If the file can be moved. And why can it not be moved or erased? Corrupted file is one reason, but why it shows 0 bytes?

Actually I found a situation today about a file. The file is a picture that cannot be erased or deleted (368KB). I get the same memory error when I try to delete or move it. The disk has some problems and is on it's way out so I expect this to be a corrupted file.

 

[quina123]

Oops! Completely forgot about this thread. Well, a simple reboot got rid of it. Not sure how, but its gone. It'll be good to know why it decided to go only after the reboot, and not when I ordered it too.

 

[Ketchup]

This is not common, but I have seen it more than once (so it's not the most rare thing in the world). It's a file that was deleted, but the image wasn't removed, even though the actual file was no longer there. Reboot always fixes.