Help! I have a file that will just not delete no matter what I try!?

Question

I downloaded a file from Limewire but it just won't play, so I tried to delete it but it just won't delete. I have tried cuting and pasting it in the recycle bin, hiting the delete key, nothing will work. I can't even avoid it because when I try to cut and paste it in another folder it won't move to the other folder, it just stays in the same place. Does anyone have any advice?

No there is no error message when I try to delete the file, absolutely nothing happens, thanks for the advice so far everyone I really appreciate it.

Answer 1

a lot of media players (and limewire) keep the file in use until you reboot, but if you don't want to reboot and even so, this might not work
but a good tool i found that works with stubborn files like this is
Unlocker (free too) http://www.filehippo.com/download_unlocker/
just install. the download less than 200kb in size
then you right click the video file, click unlocker, and kill any process that is using the video and delete it

im me or e-mail me if this doesn't work and i'll walk you thru it

Answer 2

It would be helpful to know if you are getting an error message when you try to delete the file, but without that information, my best suggestion is to boot your computer into safe-mode (assuming it's Windows) and then try deleting it.

To do this, restart your computer. As soon as you start it, start pressing the f8 button. You will get a start up screen asking you what to load. Choose safe mode, and let the computer start up. It will take longer to boot, display odd messages, and then come up to a desktop that doesn't look exactly like what you're used to. Once you get there, try deleting it again. What this does is prevents files other then those needed to load the computer from being put into memory when the computer starts, and should allow you to delete the file (assuming that the problem was related to it being in use).

If that doesn't work, update your question with the error message for further assistance.

Answer 3

Im no computer expert but i've had the same problem a number of times. There are two things to try:

1) If you have Mc Afee or Norton even if the licence has ran out use its quarrentine. You can find this by opening the program (there's normally a tab somewhere about this depends on your version) If you cannot find it here browse around the program file which is located in MyComputer then C: Drive then Program Files then whatever the name of the antivirus is called. Browse around for quarrentine console or qconsole, the application will have a nice picture on it like a dustbin. Click on it, its simple when you're here just browse for the file then hit quarrentine, you can then delete it from quarrentine.

2)Another tactic i've used sounds quite childish but i've foiled many viruses and corrupt files. Often you cannot deleate it because it is running. An error message will pop up telling you that this is the case. To close the file before deleting is harder than you might think. Some viruses automatically switch on when you have stopped them (as a bit of a defence mechanism i think). This is annoying, you have to pull up task manager (hit ctrl alt del or open in via the control pannel) find the file if its a running app. then click end task quickly click on the file n delete it. If this dosn't work end task then use the quarrentine consol to delete it

http://www.download.com/Adios/3000-2248_4-10537553.html?tag=lst-0-6

The Adios software routinely deletes alsorts its usefull so take a look at. There are quarrentine consoles out there for free, try these

http://www.download.com/Stellar-Wipe-Personal-Edition/3000-2144_4-10409359.html

http://www.download.com/Absolute-Delete/3000-2248_4-10319045.html?tag=lst-0-3


Hope this helps, tried to make is sound as easy as possible, its not that hard to do. Good Luck

Answer 4

Try going into what's called "Safe Mode" to delete the file. To get into Safe Mode:
1. Hit the F8 key as the computer boots up (i.e., when it says "Hit <> key to enter SETUP", or something along those lines).
2. Select "Safe Mode".

When a file cannot be modified/deleted in Normal mode, it can almost always be done so in Safe Mode; no real need to download a special program/utility.

Hope that helps!

Answer 5

As stated above, a program like "Unlocker" will often work, but you can also try booting the computer into "Safe Mode" by tapping the F8 key as the pc boots up. Once in safe mode, try deleting that file again. This also often works.

Answer 6

does it give u any error?