Can't delete certain files. "unsorted"

[Thesouphead]

I have numerous files that will not delete. I think I might have to go to regedit to fix this problem, but I am not sure. I know I really shouldn't be messing around with the registry. I have tried closing "explorer.exe" and deleting them, but that doesn't work. I am not getting the "file is being used by another program" message. It seems as if the pc simply doesn't respond to my comands at all when it comes to these files. All of them have different names, but all start out with "unsorted". Anybody else ever have this problem?

[jmatt]

1st step , run a virus check from 1 of these .
Online Virus check ( free )
http://housecall.antivirus.com/
http://www.coledata.com/virusalert.htm
http://www.cybertechhelp.com/html/misc/av.php
http://www.pandasoftware.es/activesc...vescan-com.asp
http://www.ravantivirus.com/scan/
http://www.bitdefender.com/
http://www.stop-sign.com/?n=google_cure5

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Delete "Unremovable" File .
http://www.xs4all.nl/~laar2002/tweak...able-file.html

1) Open a Command Prompt window and leave it open.
2) Close all open programs.
3) Click Start > Run and enter TASKMGR.EXE
4) Go to the Processes tab and End Process on Explorer.exe.
5) Leave Task Manager open.
6) Go back to the Command Prompt window and change to the directory the undeletable file is located in.
7) At the command prompt type DEL where is the file you wish to delete.
8) Go back to Task Manager, click File, New Task and enter EXPLORER.EXE to restart the GUI shell.
9) Close Task Manager.

Another way .

Delete undeletable files
http://rogier.xszone.nl/windows/wintricks.html

1) Close all open programs.
2) Open a Command Prompt window.
3) Close Explorer.exe from the task manager (ctrl-shift-esc), leave Task Manager open.
4) Navigate to the folder with the undeletable file(s) in the command prompt window with the cd command.
5) Delete the file with del filename.ext
6) Reopen explorer.exe from the taskmanager.

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http://kickme.to/OTBSoft/

Script Ready Logo .
This symbol means the program is designed to run in a completely automated fashion using command line parameters and/or configuration files. Recommended for use in batch files and scripts.

Unless otherwise noted, all programs below were designed to run on Windows 9x, Me, NT40, 2000, and XP. Because they're all 32 bit applications, none of the programs below will run under MS-DOS.

Remove Empty Folders (RmEmpty) 1.2 Free rmemp12.zip
(36 Kb)

A console mode utility that recursively deletes only empty folders. Great for clearing out all those junk directories you have laying around. Will NOT delete files, or folders that have files in them. Only empty folders (or folders containing nothing but other empty folders) are removed.

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http://www.windowsxpatoz.com/cgi-bin...&id=1036282433

Delete/Modify "Locked Files"

The XP bug that sometimes locks files (mostly AVI's) can be overcome quite easily. When XP refuses to delete/modify a file; simply jump into the command prompt (Start>Run>"cmd") and modify the file from there. Windows-DOS seems to work around this bug. No need to wade through complex procedures for this one.

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http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Delete an Undeletable File in Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_d.htm#del
Permission Denied - When Trying to Delete Folders/Files

Windows Explorer/Tools/Folder Options/View/Unmark "Use Simple File Sharing". Right click the folder/file in question/Properties/Security/Advanced/Owner/Set Permissions.

HOW TO: Set, View, Change, or Remove File and Folder Permissions
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm
http://support.microsoft.com/support.../q308/4/18.asp

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CopyLock
http://www.noeld.com/dlmisc.htm#copylock
[Windows 9x/Me/NT/2000/XP] PAD

CopyLock is a small program that allows the replacement or the deletion of one or many files that are currently in use (e.g. the system files like comctl32.dll.)
Add the files to update, click Replace, restart and that's it!

You can also list and edit the pending operations from the system after you ran an installer.

Disclaimer: you can crash your system or make it unbootable if you are not careful, use at your own risk.

========================================

http://www.webattack.com/get/moveonboot.shtml
http://www.softnews.ro/public/cat/13/4/13-4-17.shtml
MoveOnBoot - move or delete files on next reboot
MoveOnBoot allows you to copiy, moves or delete files on the next system boot. This comes in very handy, if you need to replace or delete files which are locked by other applications, loaded into memory or cannot be changed until next system boot. You could manually enter a line to the wininit files, but using MoveOnBoot is much simpler, since the program can be integrated into shell - it creates the "Copy/Move/Delete on boot" context menu item.
License: Freeware
Price: Free
Windows: 98/ME/NT/2000/XP

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http://www.sover.net/~whoi/WinUtils1.html
http://www.csc.calpoly.edu/%7Ebfries...les/bdel32.zip
BusyDelete BusyDelete will delete files even if they are busy. The file(s) you specify will be marked for deletion. Then the next time you reboot your system the Operating System will delete the file(s). For example BDEL ATL.DLL will delete the file during the next reboot.

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DiamondCS DelLater
http://www.all4you.dk/FreewareWorld/links.php?id=13859
http://www.all4you.dk/FreewareWorld/links.php?go=13859
It's free, it's tiny, it's open source, it's easy to use, and it can delete files for you when all else fails. So what is it?

[ESALADUANE]

See if anything here is helpful.

"You Cannot Delete a File or a Folder"
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;320081

[Thesouphead]

Thanks a bunch. Will give it a shot when i get home.

[ESALADUANE]

Here's another idea you might want to try.

Try deleting the file by moving it to a directory and then deleting the directory in MS-DOS Mode by using the "rmdir /s" command.

[Lisy]

How do you get to Command.com window or to MS Dos window?

Thank you for your help. Lisy

[ESALADUANE]

Start > All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt

or, Start > Run > (type) CMD > OK

[Uncle Monty]

JMatts solutions here are excellent, but if I could add something from my experience regarding one of them:

I had an AVI I couldn't delete (usual 'file in use by another person or program' error message). I managed to delete it from the DOS prompt, BUT I had to kill explorer in Task Manager first. No biggy, but I hope it helps someone.

I also noticed that a manifestation of this problem is that, after trying to delete the problem file, Explorer hogs CPU usage and XP crawls until rebooted or Explorer is killed/reloaded.