Can't delete folders

Even though I've uninstalled the programs pertaining to them, I cannot delete some folders out of my Program Files directory. Namely, Micosoft Frontpage, MSN Gaming Zone, NetMeeting, Movie Maker and Xerox all say that they are being used be another program and to close that before deleting the files. I haven't been able to find any program using them either.

I'm using XP home edition.

Thanks for the help.

 

if you just uninstalled them you will get this error because windows "thinks" they are still being used.
if you have rebooted and tried and still have the same issue you can remove them by booting to safe mode (safe mode = F8 while just turning on the computer)

 

I forgot to mention that I tried that already. I was able to delete most of the folders in Safe Mode, but when I booted back up to either Safe Mode or Normal Mode, the folders came back.

 

hmm, well..
from this point i am at work right now and cant find anything to edit the registry for this via google
its either that or say windows media player is attached to that folder and is requesting to have it back.

this is pretty much the same problem with the "links" under favs on IE. you have to edit the reg to get it to stay away.

if you are used to messing around in the reg you should find the option to kill it off under "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion"

i know.. not much help but maybe it will assist in your search.

 

I took a quick look in the registry but I really dont know what I'm looking for. Anyone else have ideas?

 

You shouldn't just be deleting folders if it's linked to an application.

You need to go into Add/Remove (or Start Menu) and uninstall them if they are listed (tick "Show Updates"), then if there are any left over files and folders, you can manually delete them.

 

I'm not just deleting folders that belong to programs. I've already uninstalled the programs that the folders belonged to. As far as I can tell, these are just leftover folders and files.

 

I should add that while I can't delete the folders as a whole, if I go into the folders I can delete the files individually...until they come back again seconds later.

 

Are you viewing the folders in Windows Explorer?
If so...don't left click the folder you want to delete or open it.
Right click it and select delete.

 

I know my way around a computer pretty well, so I know it's more complicated than that. I just can't figure out what program/process is preventing me from deleting these leftover folders and files. Thanks though.

 

bump

 

You won't be able to permanently remove some of these folders, they are tied in to the operating system (WinLogon).

Unlocker will tell you what program is using them, as well as allowing you to delete them via a context menu.

They will however, if they are tied to WinLogon, recreate when you reboot.

 

thanks, i'll give it a try

 

I never use msn gaming zone, its been uninstalled for awhile. I just deleted the folder in program files, rebooted, and it is gone! Is it linked to MSN messenger or somthing like that? Because I disabled msn completely with Safe XP
I'm curious too

 

All of the folders I wanted to delete are linked to winlogon, so as soon as rebooted they came back.

Before I installed SP2 I never had these kinds of problems...maybe it's related to that somehow?