unable to delete file

Hi guys, noob here, so please be gentle.... I have an old video file that is 10Gb in size that i'm not able to delete. When i try i get told that it is in use by one or more programmes, even when no other programme is active. My hard disk is only 40GB, so its kinda screwing me at the moment. Do you have any suggestions as to how to get rid of it?

 

Hello,

Try to delete the file after rebooting into Safe mode. Also, what is the file name?

 

The file is just a Windows Media video file. I have just noticed that myCPU usage is constantly at 100%, even when doing nothing, and the processes section shows 35 active processes, with explorer.exe using 99% of resources.

 

Have you tried deleting the file from DOS?

 

Or should I say the very old fashioned way, using the 'del' command from DOS?

 

Do you know what I mean???

 

My suspicion is that something at startup is pointing to that undeletable file which should be able to be deleted if you start in safe mode. But I also would suspect and look for some kind of background program which is running unbeknown to you. Look at your startups first I reckon.
Robert

 

Hi guys, i've tried to delete whilst i safe mode, but it wont have any of it. After pressing the ctrl+alt+del buttons to check background applications, there is nothing else running, so i'm really stuck. Any more ideas?

 

What are the properties of the files in question ( system, archive , hidden, or read only ) ? Most files can be safely deleted in Safe Mode. You could try to delete in the cmd ( command ) prmt mode which is under start up , programs, accessaries. If this doesn't work, then I would lean toward earlier suggestion that another program/application is running and preventing you from deleting it.

 

Please excuse my spelling in the previous post, but it is late, and I'm tired and sleepy. I didn't notice your OS being mentioned in your post. Do you use AdawareSE and Spybot Search and Destroy? If not, I would recommend that you download them ( they are available at this site, in the download section ), check for updates, and then run them!

 

Ok guys, i'm tearing out my hair now. Ive tried Killbox with out any luck, the ****ing file is still there, and it has now appeared on my external drive as well. To add my problems, my CPU seems stuck at 100% usage no matter what i have or dont have running, and i'm now being told that my ext DVD RW is in use by another programme when i try to use it, despite nothing else running, meaning it wont work. I have shut everything down that i possibly can and have run Anti virus, spybot, spywareblaster, ad aware, all reporting no problmes. PLEASE HELP......................

 

Not to be smart, but I'll ask again.....

Have you tried deleting the file from the command prompt using the reliable 'del' command?????????????????????

 

Sorry Geekabee, but you have lost me there...how do i do that please?

 

Hello Again -I still think that somehting is starting up when you boot up which is locking up that file and presumably is putting it in other places. Accepting that it is not a virus then open up spybot click on tools in the bottom left hand corner and you will see a lot of icons. Click on the Startups Icon and see what programs are starting up when you boot up.If there are programs you don't recognize then take the tick out of them then reboot. That could well be the answer to the problem - any sort of Media player including WMP should not be there at startup.
Cheers
Robert

 

First you would find the path, or location of the file (i.e. c:/windows/autoexec.bat) and either write it down or make a mental note of it. Writing it down would probably be better.
Once you've done that reboot your computer.
When the computer is booting keep pushing the F8 key until you see a numerical list asking you if you want to "Normal Startup, Safe Mode Startup, Command Prompt, etc."
Select the option for command prompt.
Once you see C: initiate a 'cd' command (i.e. cd windows) to take you to the location of the folder where the file you want to delete is located.
It's important that you have the folders and subfolders where the file can be located as you cannot delete the file and the folder at the same time. You will have to manually remove each file from each folder by using the 'del' command (i.e. - once in the windows folder - c:/windows you would type del autoexec.bat)
Once the file is deleted and the folder is empty you can back out the folder and delete it if necessary. Let me know if you need to do that and I'd be glad to give you instructions.
Hope this solves your prob.