I am trying to delete a suspected corrupt/infected file from my PC.  It is pretty much saying that it cannot delete it because it is in use.  I have tried a proram called unlocker, and it has failed.  My other option that i have tried is deleting it via DOS prompt, however i suck at DOS (And have for the past 20 years).  Any help you fine citizens can give me would be extremely appreciated.  Thanks all.

Did you try re-booting and then deleting?  

Yeah, sometimes (if you're using windows) it doesn't release a file. Rebooting helps sometimes, but it depends on what type of file it is. Sometimes you have to boot into safe mode to delete it if the file is still in use.

I am in safe mode, probably rebooted about five times if not more...I have run out of ideashinking.gif

what is the file name?

its located at C:\My Shared Folder\Smith1.avi

If anyone could inform me on the proper commands to do a DOS delete, that could help to (Did i mention i am horrible with DOS?)

if you right click and get the properties, what does it say about the file?

Then it would be:

del C:\My Shared Folder\Smith1.avi

Get HijackThis from www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html


It will show you what services and applications are automatically executed on startup.

You can delete the offending application registry key and reboot. Then it will break the startup routine and you should be able to delete the other offending files.

This is not a fire and forget application like a virus scanner or adaware. You have to know what's on your system. You can dump the output of the HijackThis log to a text file and cut and paste it here so people can help you recognize bad ju ju. Basically, you can Google each entry if you don't recognize something and see what comes back. In most cases, there's some tech forum or other security site that will have some reference to the offending files.

www.computerhope.com/msdos.htm

It wont even bring up the properties (Tried that already)

and i tried that command to delete the file in DOS and it gave me this-''isn't recognizing it as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file'

Look for a program called MoveOnBoot.

This happens with incompletely downloaded video files because windows has a program that tries to find the end of the file every time you try to do something with it. You can either delete the program, which I don't remember how to do, or install a program that deletes the file during the boot process.

(This is particularly tough when someone downloads porn onto a share computer and then cannot delete the files. I get lots of late night text messages and phone calls from people asking how to delete .avi and .mpeg files all the time.

Is this a shared file on a network?

Why is it in a shared folder?

www.softwarepatch.com/tips/howto-delete-xp.html

Best trick is usually to rename the file then delete (or reboot after renaming and deleting).  This tends to fool windows.

I believe there are some utilities to help with this (one is listed in the url above).  

All this is pre-empted with the warning of making sure it's not a vital OS file that you really shouldn't be deleting.

Depending on the file itself (you don't say what type it is), you can try to kill the process that might have it locked, though it probably shouldn't be starting if you have tried safe mode.

it doesn't allow me to rename the file becuase it is in use, it is in a shared folder because it was downloaded off of limewire, it is an avi file and there is no program running it (It is also not a critical system file)

There may be another copy of it somewhere like in a temp folder that limewire is trying to download it to.  Check to see if there are any temp files that limewire uses to place partially downloaded files into until they are completed.  Do a search on your pc for that file name to see if it is located anywhere else.

Disable any network connections to make sure something isn’t accessing it through the network.

Run task manager to see if it’s running and end the task. Also look for any media programs like Quicktime or RealPlayer that are running in the background. Close these programs.


Go to Start>Programs>Startup and make sure the file (or any media program) isn’t listed there. If it is delete it and reboot. (Programs here run at startup.)

If that doesn’t help…

(Be careful with this, you make a mistake or change/delete the wrong thing your PC won’t boot.)

…run “regedit” from the command prompt. This is your PCs registry which contains all kinds of essential configuration information. Changes are made instantly so there’s no going back.

Technically you should back up your registry but if you are careful you should be ok.

Either search for the filename or search for some keys (Keys are sorta like folders) called “run” The “Run” key contains a list of programs to run at startup. If you find the filename under a key called “run” then highlight the filename and delete it. There’s more than one “run” key so finish searching the whole thing (which may take a bit) and reboot

Don’t change anything else in the registry if you aren’t sure what you are doing.

I usually go right into 'regedit' and start deleting the stuff I know is no good.  Then reboot.

(but I tend to be brave when it comes to regedit)

I guess move on boot was the key...did a hard restart and was able to delete all copies of the file.  Thanks arfcom...you all are awesome as always

For my thanks...I give you gun pr0n
http://www.digistash.com/data/193002e668758ea9762904da1a22337c/full_5812_p103252.jpg

Cowboy

Quoted: I guess move on boot was the key...did a hard restart and was able to delete all copies of the file.  Thanks arfcom...you all are awesome as always For my thanks...I give you gun pr0n www.digistash.com/data/193002e668758ea9762904da1a22337c/full_5812_p103252.jpg Cowboy

Good stuff there and it sounds like no computers were permanently injured in the process.

Good stuff there and it sounds like no computers were permanently injured in the process.

what do you think im shooting at

Quoted: Good stuff there and it sounds like no computers were permanently injured in the process. what do you think im shooting at

You must be talking about the old computer that was replaced by the new one in your original post.  Did the 'pic' computer fail to fix itself after a hard reset ?

ya damn skippy...my appliances and technological devices tremble at the sound of my safeties goin click hug.gif

Quoted: ya damn skippy...my appliances and technological devices tremble at the sound of my safeties goin click

Ooohhhh?  You made an example out of some of them in front of the others ?

Purged the ranks Stalin style...thus the eastern bloc weapon of choice