Won't Delete...

What do you do when a file won't delete. In the past I have cut it and paste it into another folder and then deleted.. but this one won't go away.

If you right click on it, the menu is even different, not offering delete or anything. It was labeled as a music video I wanted, not sure if its porn, or what. It won't play either. I have antivirus up so not too worried, just annoyed.

Oh, and arnwolf, I am using windows xp =)

Try to drag-and-drop it to the recycle bin. Failing that, change the name of the extension (i.e. .exe to .txt) and then see if you can delete it.

It won't drag to recycle bin or anywhere, and it won't let me rename it.

Any other ideas?

Did you try renaming it through command prompt? I've seen it done through there, so that *might* work. Don't know the commands though <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/ohwell.gif ALT=":\">

This 'file' you're trying to delete wouldn't be called "My Computer" by chance?

don't laugh at me.....

I was downloading "gwen stefani - rock steady" off KazaaLite (fine, laugh a LITTLE)

once it was downloaded it was now called "Celeb_Winslet"

If you are going to be deceptive and send me porn, atleast make it someone worth looking at.

*EDIT* Sweeeet, command prompt worked. One more tool in my arsenal of quickly forgotten computer tricks. Thanks again people.

System restore to sometime before you downloaded and installed the virus/trojan...

<grins>

Arnwolf

Right-click the file, select properties, and see if "read only" is checked.

Also, you may have a sharing violation when trying to delete the file. Restart the machine and try deleting again.

If that doesn't work, bring up the task manager and see if it is running...if so, end the task there.

Despite some stupid questions here, I am not a newb =)

I trried the right click, the only menu options available were "open" "que up" "play" and some others. Nothing to do woth file handling.

As far as task manager tried that too, as well as any processes I didn't recognize. I also scanned the folder with norton and no virus detected.

You've probably tried this as well. shift+delete

Catcen, how can I do that???

The EXACT same thing happened to me except it's a different song title. I can't even highlight this @#%$ or it freezes up my computer. Tried everything I can think of as well as everything listed in this thread.


HELP ! !

trying myself, Sar, i got two files that won't delete. Won't rename. can't CMD prompt 'em because it says, "file does not exist".. and if i try to view the properties, it says "Properties for this item are not available."

hehe bastards..

Basically they exceed the naming convention limits for XP/2K (i think it's like 255 characters) and more might confuse it.

I"m about to try booting to cmd prompt and nuking them. But I don't use Xp so i'm not sure if you have that ability.

okay, simple solution that someone suggested.

Open dos prompt and surf to the file directory....
To go to program files type the following (cd = change directory)

cd /program files

change directories till you get where you want then delete the file by typing "del" with a space and the name of the file. If the file name is long AND THERE ARE NO OTHER FILES THAT START THE SAME you can type the first few letters of the word followed by * like on the next line.

Here is a full example.

/cd .. (took me from the default settings folder to the root drive)
/cd program files
/cd KaZaA Lite
/cd My Shared Folder
/dir (to list files and make sure the file I want is there)
/del unwantedfile
or... with *...
/del unwa*