Going insane with deletion issue.

[anniehoang]

Hi there, hopefully someone here can help me.

I downloaded a file awhile ago, over 300MB. I want to get rid of it now, the problem is... it won't delete. Keeps saying it's being used by another program. (It's really a ZIP file but it has an EXE extension)
I've tried the usual deleting, won't work, then tried moving it into a seperate folder and deleting the whole folder won't work. Tried Norton's erasing tool, still won't. Used Window Washer's shred tool won't work, went into safe mode, still won't work. And used the command prompt and no go.

I'm getting really desperate now, so any help would be great thanks!

-Annie

[chance]

run a spyware scan, and a good online virus scan, if this dont find something, what is the file supposed to be, it would help in finding out how to kill it.

[waresoft]

Write a batch file to delete it.

Simply open notepad and type the following:

del "path"\"filename"

"path" is the path such as C:\Program Files\XP Smoker\

"Filename" is the name of the file such as junk.zip

put them together: C:\Program Files\XP Smoker\junk.zip

so it should look something like this, however, substitute the Path and filename for your actual path to your file and the file's actual name:

del C:\Program Files\XP Smoker\junk.zip

save the file as junk.bat

Add this file to your startup folder on you startmenu

reboot

If you do it right it should delete the file.

Then remove junk.bat from your startup folder in the start menu.

You could also try this program called in-use from Microsoft.

It is a command line utility to enable you to delete or replace a file upon reboot.

http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...N-US/inuse.exe

[scouse]

change the exe to anything like ppp then try and delete it should work fine that way

you could always try deleting your zip utility then delete the file, as it may be the zip utility that is preventing it to delete although that should'nt happen.

[anniehoang]

I tried the .bat solution but unfortunetly it hasn't worked. The screen flashes by quickly but I think it says something along the lines of file not found even though I know I typed everything in properly.

I can't change the filetype because it won't let me rename anything, and I haven't used any uncompression tool. Scanned for Virus and spyware and none found...

The exact filename if it helps is something something v5_0 FINAL.zip.exe

With spaces. (Omitted true name just in case) Are the spaces giving the .bat thing a problem? If so how do I type in placeholders?

Thanks again

-Annie

[waresoft]

The spaces shouldn't pose a problem. Another suggestion that should work is to move the file if you can to your %systemroot%\system32 directory.

Then login to the recovery console and delete the file manually.

[anniehoang]

Unfortunetly I can't move the file either. It seems quite content where it is.

I tried creating a seperate file with the same name to replace it.. simple txt file 0 k, then changed the extension and everything... but then even that file become stuck. Doesn't take up space so it's really only an annoyance but apparently anything with that name now refuses to get deleted.

-Annie

[sentient13]

try using the dr delete program. it is very effective at deleting files. it can delete most files as they are running, and if not, it will mark them for deletion on startup. its deleted everything ive thrown at it.
heres an explanation of it:
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/rema...ware~mode=flat
heres where you can download it:
http://www.dslreports.com/r0/downloa...c/DrDelete.zip
--edit: it also fits your situation perfectly

[sentient13]

also, the file is probably not spyware or a virus-i use a program called dc to quickly download files off my college network, and if the file doesnt finish downloading (or properly download-for whatever reason), it will have the same issue. it has something to do with file associations i believe. but again, the above program will fix everything. just dont delete yourself!

[anniehoang]

That Dr. Delete program worked.
Thank you SOOOOOOO much!!

That file.. well the 2 files were realyl getting to be, and now I can sing the goodbye song to it

Thank you again for solving this. And thanks everyone else for trying suggestions.

-Annie