Help! - Evil File, won't let me delete it!

metomeyametomeya New
edited August 2006 in Science & Tech
Okay, I've tried everything, and googled for the answer. Okay here goes.

I have a file I can't delete.

I installed LimeWire (newest version) After downloading a few files I thought I canceled some that were not what they said they were (porn and like words in the filename).

I came across a folder called incomplete which seemed to hold partly downloaded files. I moved the entire folder to my download folder with no problem (I can't move it ever since). After realizeding that the partly downloaded filed were porn files. I tried to delete them. Then a write-protect/files in use error came up.

So I booted in safe mode (that way making sure the program whatever it was, was not running) and tried to delete it. Same error! I then tired Ultrawipe my ace in the hole for deleting files. It got rid of two of the AVI files but left one (image below).

I googled it, and found this link: http://www.softwarepatch.com/tips/howto-delete-xp.html

Tried everything it said. Even the MoveOnBoot program didn't take it out! (It says "invalid file name" when I selete it to be deleted on bootup)

When I right click, it won't even give me the option to delete it!

Anyideas on how to get rid of this file?

Does XP still have some type of DOS command prompt and does it still have the delete function (I don't think i'll be able to path in the path if I can do it that way :( ) Any ideas?



P.S. I covered the file name cause of the words in it.
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Comments

  • DexterDexter Vancouver, BC Canada
    edited August 2005
    Try Killbox, which you can grab from our Security Downloads page (link in my sig.) Select for delete on reboot.

    Or, try Hijack This, go to Misc Tools, click Delete a File on Reboot.

    See if either of those work.

    Dexter...
  • metomeyametomeya New
    edited August 2005
    Okay I was going to post that I just tried a program called DelinvFile a program to delete invalid filenames, and when I try to delete by short name, it says file not found, and when i try to delete by UNC it says error 206!

    (If you want the link http://www.purgeie.com/delinv.htm)

    I then tired Hijack this! Invalid filename it says.

    Then I tried KillBox, It won't let me select it! I tried double clicking (nothing happens) and click okay with it highlighted, the box just disappears!

    I tried going ahead and selecting the folder that its in and selecting "delete tree" and deleteon reboot.

    Still there! What on earth is this thing?
  • profdlpprofdlp The Holy City Of Westlake, Ohio
    edited August 2005
    Can you rename it, then try again? Another old trick is to create a new folder, drag-and-drop the file into it, then delete the whole thing.
  • metomeyametomeya New
    edited August 2005
    Ya I can't rename it, no option in the right-click and I tried F2.

    The file is in the folder "incomplete" I've tired deleteing the whole folder, but it doesn't work.
  • DexterDexter Vancouver, BC Canada
    edited August 2005
    Try Killbox and HJT in SAFE MODE.

    If they fail, you may have to shell into DOS and try to delete the file from the command line, try an ATTR first to change any permissions like Read Only.

    Do you know how to do thoat in DOS?

    Dexter...
  • metomeyametomeya New
    edited August 2005
    Well kinda, but could you tell me the right path to type in DOS?

    Here it is:

    C:\Documents and Settings\John Smith\My Documents\Downloads\zMedia\Incomplete

    And uh also how would I get the dos name of the really long file? I won't post here cause of the curse/sex words in it, I'll PM if you give the okay.

    Then it is just "delete evilfile.avi" right?
  • KwitkoKwitko Sheriff of Banning (Retired) By the thing near the stuff Icrontian
    edited August 2005
    If you're comfortable editing the registry, this trick has never failed me. Navigate to the following key:
    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.avi\shellex\PropertyHandler

    Delete the Default key located there. Now delete the AVI.
  • metomeyametomeya New
    edited August 2005
    Okay I tried exactly what you said Dexter, and it literally said "Cannot Delete file" that was KillBox in safe mode! same with Hijack this

    KillBox nor Hijack this still won't let me select the file. I keep trying to delete the folder that contains it.

    And Kwitko, It won't let me delete the Default Key. It says "Unable to Delete all Specified Values"

    :scratch:
  • profdlpprofdlp The Holy City Of Westlake, Ohio
    edited August 2005
    Try a registry cleanup tool like MS RegClean, or Ace Utilities, reboot, then give it another shot. You could run the error-checking utility for the drive, too.
  • metomeyametomeya New
    edited August 2005
    Okay I think I found the way but I need the dos short name of the file. How do I figure that out?
  • KwitkoKwitko Sheriff of Banning (Retired) By the thing near the stuff Icrontian
    edited August 2005
    It's the first 6 letters of the filename, without any spaces, plus ~1. So if your file is The Adventures of Huck Finn.avi, its DOS name would be theadv~1.avi.
  • DexterDexter Vancouver, BC Canada
    edited August 2005
    metomeya wrote:
    Well kinda, but could you tell me the right path to type in DOS?

    Here it is:

    C:\Documents and Settings\John Smith\My Documents\Downloads\zMedia\Incomplete

    And uh also how would I get the dos name of the really long file? I won't post here cause of the curse/sex words in it, I'll PM if you give the okay.

    Then it is just "delete evilfile.avi" right?

    NOTE: BEFORE YOU DO THIS, MAKE SURE THAT LIMEWIRE IS NOT RUNNING, EVEN IN THE BACKGROUND. IT JUST OCCUURED TO ME THAT LIMEWIRE COULD BE HOLDING ON TO THIS FILE, WHICH MAY BE WHY YOU CANNOT DELETE. DISABLE LIMEWIRE FIRST.

    Easiest thing to do, assuming you are running XP is this. Download the XP Powertoy called Command Here.

    Install this. It will add a feature to your right-click context menus that says Open Command Window Here. So all you need to do in Windows is locate the folder you want to be in when shelling over to DOS, right click it, and select Open Command Window Here. It will open a DOS shell, already navigated to the folder you want to be in.

    So in Windows, navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\John Smith\My Documents\Downloads\zMedia. Locate the folder named "Incomplete." Right click it, Open Command Window Here.

    Type in DIR <enter>.

    You will see a list of the files in the folder. Like Kwitko said, it will probably be a short name, ie "theadv~1.avi."

    Type in DEL THEADV~1.AVI <enter>

    Type DIR <enter> again to see if it deleted.

    If it does not delete, then type

    If it will not delete, type in

    ATTRIB THEADV~1.AVI <enter>

    This will then display some letters in front of the file name, which show the file attrributes. These can be remembred with the acronym RASH:

    R = Read-only file attribute.
    A = Archive file attribute.
    S = System file attribute.
    H = Hidden file attribute.

    If the file has an R or an S in front of it, you need to remove them like this

    ATTRIB -R -S THEADV~1.AVI <enter>

    Then ATTRIB THEADV~1.AVI <enter> again to see if the attributes changed.

    If they changed, then:

    DEL THEADV~1.AVI <enter>

    Type DIR <enter> again to see if it deleted.

    If it deleted, you can exit the DOS shell.

    Let us know if that helped.

    Dexter...
  • galgamekgalgamek
    edited October 2005
    metomeya wrote:
    Okay, I've tried everything, and googled for the answer. Okay here goes.

    I have a file I can't delete.

    I installed LimeWire (newest version) After downloading a few files I thought I canceled some that were not what they said they were (porn and like words in the filename).

    I came across a folder called incomplete which seemed to hold partly downloaded files. I moved the entire folder to my download folder with no problem (I can't move it ever since). After realizeding that the partly downloaded filed were porn files. I tried to delete them. Then a write-protect/files in use error came up.

    So I booted in safe mode (that way making sure the program whatever it was, was not running) and tried to delete it. Same error! I then tired Ultrawipe my ace in the hole for deleting files. It got rid of two of the AVI files but left one (image below).

    I googled it, and found this link: http://www.softwarepatch.com/tips/howto-delete-xp.html

    Tried everything it said. Even the MoveOnBoot program didn't take it out! (It says "invalid file name" when I selete it to be deleted on bootup)

    When I right click, it won't even give me the option to delete it!

    Anyideas on how to get rid of this file?

    Does XP still have some type of DOS command prompt and does it still have the delete function (I don't think i'll be able to path in the path if I can do it that way :( ) Any ideas?



    P.S. I covered the file name cause of the words in it.

    Hi there,

    I had exactly the same problem as you. I had a dodgy porn mpg from limewire that i desperately wanted to delete. The problem was that i'd moved the incomplete file to another folder, the result being that when i tried to delete it there was a message "cannot delete file, you may not have access... or file may be in use..."

    All i did was i went into limewire, added the new folder to my limewire shared directory and deleted it from inside limewire. Worked for me, I hope this will help you.
  • metomeyametomeya New
    edited October 2005
    galgamek wrote:
    Hi there,

    I had exactly the same problem as you. I had a dodgy porn mpg from limewire that i desperately wanted to delete. The problem was that i'd moved the incomplete file to another folder, the result being that when i tried to delete it there was a message "cannot delete file, you may not have access... or file may be in use..."

    All i did was i went into limewire, added the new folder to my limewire shared directory and deleted it from inside limewire. Worked for me, I hope this will help you.

    Ya, forgot about this thread. Thats exactly what I did, but I bet dexter's way would work. He has always come through. But I'm too lazy to try it!

    :p
  • ronboronbo Connecticut
    edited October 2005
    move on boot should work. It has always worked for me....
    http://www.snapfiles.com/get/moveonboot.html
  • metomeyametomeya New
    edited October 2005
    Honestly, like all the move on boot, stuff, nerd tricks I was told by the best didn't work. (except I haven't tried Dexter's yet). tried stopping explorer, and all that stuff.
  • ronboronbo Connecticut
    edited October 2005
    Well you were told wrong. Nerds tricks? Have fun with your problem .
  • NekrissNekriss
    edited August 2006
    I am having the exact same problems. ive tried everything here. anything else i can try or should i just crash my computer? i have another thread in Emergencies about this. please post it there.
  • NightwolfNightwolf Afghanistan Member
    edited August 2006
    I had the same problem with limewire, I was Dl'in some techno and one of the songs wouldn't play/wouldn't let me delete it...I don't remember how I fixed it.
  • NekrissNekriss
    edited August 2006
    If you remember, please lemme know. this is pretty important
  • NekrissNekriss
    edited August 2006
    metomeya wrote:
    Ya, forgot about this thread. Thats exactly what I did, but I bet dexter's way would work. He has always come through. But I'm too lazy to try it!

    :p

    OMG that helped me!! deleting it in limewire! thx for the help anyway!
  • metomeyametomeya New
    edited August 2006
    Why it is that deleting it from limewire works, but nothing else does (like re-boot deletes, safemode deletes, etc.)?
  • n_ver_endingn_ver_ending &quot;Cloud 9...mind's sky&quot;
    edited August 2006
    I have a question for you guys? Does LimeWire have addware like Kazaa? I was not sure so I did not want to put it into my computer.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited August 2006
    Yes it does. Limewire, Kazaa, Morpheus, Bearshare.. They all have spyware.
  • ricotiporicotipo
    edited August 2006
    Try unlocker never fails me.
    http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/
    Did you check the attributes of the files, to be sure they are not "read only"?
    In Unlocker don't forget to change the "no action" choice.
  • n_ver_endingn_ver_ending &quot;Cloud 9...mind's sky&quot;
    edited August 2006
    Thrax wrote:
    Yes it does. Limewire, Kazaa, Morpheus, Bearshare.. They all have spyware.


    Nothing is really for free nowadays is it?!
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited August 2006
    TANSTAAFL, my friend. :D
  • TroganTrogan London, UK
    edited August 2006
    There are some clean P2P programs. They are:

    Ares
    Azureus
    BearShare Lite
    BitComet
    Bittorrent
    Crazaa
    DC++
    E-Mule
    Frostwire
    Gnucleus
    iMesh
    Limewire
    Phex
    Shareaza
    Soulseek
    µTorrent
    Xolox

    These have all been tested Spyware Free.
  • LeonardoLeonardo Wake up and smell the glaciers Eagle River, Alaska Icrontian
    edited August 2006
    Nothing is really for free nowadays is it?!
    You couldn't be more wrong. There are tons of software utilities, tools, and programs that are freeware and work exactly as promoted without malware.
  • n_ver_endingn_ver_ending &quot;Cloud 9...mind's sky&quot;
    edited August 2006
    Trogan_1000 wrote:
    There are some clean P2P programs. They are:

    Ares
    Azureus
    BearShare Lite
    BitComet
    Bittorrent
    Crazaa
    DC++
    E-Mule
    Frostwire
    Gnucleus
    iMesh
    Limewire
    Phex
    Shareaza
    Soulseek
    µTorrent
    Xolox

    These have all been tested Spyware Free.

    I though Limewire had spyware...
    I have to say I have not heard of any programs you listed...I guess I am out of touch with the P2P sharing. = )
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