How can I take out files that I dont need?

Question

Ok I know how to delete files but there are some files that I cant delete. It says it is because It is being used by another program or person. I restart the computer and still I cant delete them. Can anyone help. Thanks in advance

They are in My Documents. They are .exe files if that helps.

Ok I tryed doing it in safe mode. It did not work however, I dont think that this is a virus. I downloaded this my self. I have avast antivirus but its not getting any viruses. Anyother suggestions.

Answer 1

Hi Ivan,

I am assuming that you have already tried the steps I have mentioned earlier.

You can try another thing.
First note down on a piece of paper, the complete path-name of the folder where the files are present.

Go to dos prompt in safe mode (The using the similar to the way that Boris had described. Press F8 during boot up time. This time select the option for safe mode in DOS Prompt rather than selecting the Safe mode).

Now change the directory to your "My Documents" folder using DOS command.
1. cd . Here the complete path naem you noted on the paper would come in handy.
2. if you run "dir" command over here then you would see the files you want to delete.
First try to move them to some other folder e.g. to c:\ using the move command.
3. move c:\

If you can move these files then it means that you can delete them also but not do it now. Reboot your computer in normal mode. If the computer does not have any errors (because it wasn't able to find the executables in My Documents) then go ahead and delete the files from the C:\. You can also go back in the dos prompt in safe mode and delete them. Do it either way.

In the step 3 I mentioned above I am assuming that you have already changed the directory to the My documents folder (by executing the step 2)

Also, if you donwloaded the files yourself there is still good chance that these are worms. Some programmers make a small game or presentation and distribute it in the e-mails. When you execute the program you think it is a game , but they can have malicious code inside them (e.g. key logger which would note the keys pressed and them email to the programmer). There is good chance that these programs would not be caught by some anti-viruses since these programs are not wide-spread and thus the anti-virus companies do not have signatures of these worms.
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Try this :
1. Open the Windows task manager. There would be several ways to do this:
a. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc keys if you are working on Windows XP or Windows 2000, or
b. Right click on the taskbar (on the bottom). This would bring out a menu. Choose the "Task Manager" option from the menu.
2. Now look for the name of the exe you want to delete. Task manager would have three tabs - Applications, Processes and Performance. Look in the lists of tabs - "Applications" and "Processes" as well - for your exe name. If you find the name of the executable in the list then right click on it and end that process (either clicking on End task or End process). After the process is ended delete the file from the My Documents folder. Follow the procedure for other files similarly.
3. It is also possible that the name of the process displayed in the task manager is different than the name of the executable. In that case try terminating each unidentified processes one by one. After terminating each process, try to delete the executable. If you execute this step then make sure that you reboot the computer after you are through.

Although I am of the same opinion as of boris that these executables can infact be virus, if you haven't put these files yourself. If you are successful in deleting the files by the steps I have mentioned, then reboot the computer. If you find that the files are back in the My documents folder, then surely it is virus/worm. In that case try using a anti-virus.

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Answer 2

restart Your comp. While rebooting press f8 as many times as possible. Then select "Safe mode" . Wait until win loads and then delete those files. After that restart again. But remember - don't delete important files.
P.S. If in safe mode U're unable to delete a file - it's 90% possible that it's a virus.
Peace man

Answer 3

go to settings and as well your control plannel then click delete this will solve that problem. my opion?

Answer 4

THANKS FOR ASKING THIS QUESTION ,SORRY I DON'T KNOW BUT I'M WAITING FOR A BETTER ANSWER THAN THE FIRST ONE IT DIDN'T WORK