Cannot delete certain files/folders

DukOfURL · Jul 14, 2005

I was cleaning up my C: drive today and I found a couple of strange folders in my Program Files folder, "Movie Maker" and "MSN Gaming Zone". These seem to be Microsoft installed puffery items, since I never put them there. (I am running Win XP Home SP2.)

I tried to delete these folders and got the usual warning about some programs may not run if you do this. I ignored that and proceeded. I got a box saying that some other program was using the files and I should close it first. But I ran HijackThis, and there is no service or process running that uses any of these files.

I not only could not delete the folders, but the individual files I could delete WERE IMMEDIATELY RE-GENERATED in the folder before my very Eyes.

I do not like not being the Master Of My Computer Domain. Any help?

Thanks.

BrokenArrows · Jul 14, 2005

Start up the computer in safe mode this should allow you st delete most of the files and hopefully the program that is regenerating those files will not be running.

Not necessary but every time i reboot into safemode i run a virus scan and the like just to be sure before i reboot.

Brandon · Jul 14, 2005

MSN Gaming Zone supports games played on zone.com and it isnt a bad folder.

[Edit]If you want to get rid of MSN Gaming Zone look in the add/remove and remove it from there.[/Edit]

controlmind

theefool · Jul 14, 2005

edited.....

DukOfURL · Jul 15, 2005

BrokenArrows said:

Start up the computer in safe mode this should allow you st delete most of the files and hopefully the program that is regenerating those files will not be running.

Not necessary but every time i reboot into safemode i run a virus scan and the like just to be sure before i reboot.
Click to expand...

I did that, and the folders went away. But when I rebooted in normal mode, they were back, fully populated.

Neither of these programs are listed in the "Add/Remove programs" list in Control Panel.

I went to Microsoft.com and searched for any reference to these programs, hoping for a clue on how to delete them, but had limited success. The progras are acknowledged as being Microsoft items, but I guess they don't want you to delete them.

I am going to try the WhoLockMe utility and see what it shows. But now I figure even if I get these folders deleted, they will be recreated by some Magic that occurs in rebooting.

Thanks for the help..

DavidGP · Jul 15, 2005

whatever you do with those folder they will re-create themselfs, they created by the OS, another one is the Xerox folder, which is used by Windows Image Aquisition.....

they are all zero byte files so take up minute space on todays GB+ HDs, so you would expell more energy and waste time trying to remove these... non-removable folders IMHO

having said all this..... and I have never tried this out ( so take this on your own head if things go titsup )

To delete those annoying folders that Microsoft kindly gave us, you know, the ones we don't want like Xerox and Microsoft Frontpage et-al just follow these simple instructions:-

1: Do a search for a file called:-
SFCFILES.DLL
There are actually two of them, one in C:\WINDOWS\system32 and one in C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache\test

2: Rename both these files to:-
SFCFILES.OLD

3: Restart your computer in Safe Mode with Command Prompt

4: To delete the folder "Microsoft Frontpage", Type this:-
RMDIR /S C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~1
and hit the Enter (Return) key on the keyboard.
You will be asked "Are you sure (Y/N)"
just hit the "Y" key on the keyboard and begin step "4" again but with a different folder address.

If you are unsure of the DOS style name of the folder you want to delete, type this:-
DIR /X C:
and hit the Enter key. This will give you the real name and the DOS style equivalent names of all files/folders on the root of C:
You will notice that the "Program Files" folder is called "PROGRA~1"
And if you type:-
DIR /X C:\PROGRA~1
and hit the Enter key on the keyboard, this will give you the files/folders within C:\Program Files.
You will notice the folder "Microsoft Frontpage" is called "MICROS~1"

The default address of some of the annoying folders are thus:-
C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~1 (Microsoft Frontpage)
C:\PROGRA~1\NETMEE~1 (Netmeeting)
C:\PROGRA~1\MOVIEM~1 (Movie Maker)
C:\PROGRA~1\OUTLOO~1 (Outlook Express)
C:\PROGRA~1\XEROX (Xerox)

BE AWARE THAT "RMDIR" IS A VERY POWERFUL AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS COMMAND.

Renaming SFCFILES.OLD back to SFCFILES.DLL will cause the deleted folders to return.
Click to expand...

Posted by Dirk Diggler originally @ EE (2002)

DukOfURL · Jul 15, 2005

Excellent! I think I will just leave them alone. Anyway, MS might check for their presence next time I am getting a Windows Update and be Mad.

Maybe I'll just change to Linux. Hahahahaha.

Thanks.

Log in or Sign up

Cannot delete certain files/folders

DukOfURL Private E-2

BrokenArrows Sergeant

Brandon controlmind

theefool Geekified

DukOfURL Private E-2

DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

DukOfURL Private E-2