Unable to delete file
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Thread: Unable to delete file

  1. January 25th, 2004, 07:49 PM #1
    zz28
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    Unable to delete file

    I have two files on my desktop that are drivers for another PC. I downloaded these files, copied them to a USB drive and moved them to another PC. (they are driver files that are NOT for MY PC) When I right-click them and choose DELETE, I get a message that says, "Cannot delete <file name>:It is being used by another person or program. Close any programs that might be using this file and try again".

    I am the only USER on the PC, There are no other users set up on it.

    WIN XP PRO, brand new PC. (Custom built)

    Any suggestions?

    Thanks

    zz28
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  2. January 25th, 2004, 10:26 PM #2
    DocPC
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    Try first to re-name them....that failing, delete them in safe-mode.
    Follow this link to chat for a quicker answer!

    NooNoo, grover, Matridom, cc_penguin, Octavian, crazyman, Major Kong, and Mayet onboard.....And now starring Ya_know!
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  3. January 25th, 2004, 10:31 PM #3
    TripleRLtd
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    Yeah, safe mode, or F8 at startup and SafeMode with Command Prompt. Funny that should happen though. What exactly are these files? Check Task Manager to see why, in fact, windoze thinks these are needed...
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  4. January 26th, 2004, 06:19 AM #4
    confus-ed
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    Quote Originally Posted by TripleRLtd
    ... What exactly are these files?...
    They are someone else's driver files copied from desktop to a usb stick, now the desktop version is 'stuck'...

    Suspect here that maybe windows isn't so sure that it finnished copying them to the removable drive & has them still marked as 'in use' .. this might be as simple as you pulled the usb stick 'too quick' or be symptomatic of the drivers being 'not quite so' for the stick ..
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  5. January 26th, 2004, 06:54 PM #5
    zz28
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    Nothing worked. Will not let me rename. Will not let me delete while in safe-mode. Tried to re-copy to USB stick and same result. Any other suggestions???
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  6. January 26th, 2004, 10:19 PM #6
    techs
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    try a chkdsk. sometimes that works
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  7. January 26th, 2004, 10:26 PM #7
    Cyphrr
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    Would recovery console work? Files should not be in use then.
    Get me a soldering iron and some duct tape, and I'll see what I can do.
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  8. January 27th, 2004, 01:00 PM #8
    Vip2
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    If this file is in a directory you do not mind deleting do a "rd /s <directoryname>" at a command prompt. This will delete the whole directory and any files in it!!

    You have been warned.
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  9. January 27th, 2004, 09:09 PM #9
    zz28
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    Cant do that...the files are on my desktop.
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  10. January 28th, 2004, 09:32 AM #10
    confus-ed
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    Try 'del' at a command prompt with the '/f' (force) or maybe '/z' suffixes see here for syntax ... I don't think it will, but it might give you a more meaningful error at least...
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  11. January 28th, 2004, 10:01 AM #11
    Gabriel
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    Quote Originally Posted by zz28
    Cant do that...the files are on my desktop.
    Two last resorts
    - Try accessing deleting the files from Clean DOS (Bootable MSDOS Floppy - Prepared from Win98 - I have Image if you need). If drive is NTFS I can give you NTFS Driver for DOS (Just PM me) NOTE - this is quite "RISKY"!!!
    - configure a new User Profile on the computer and Delete the old one.

    Good Luck,
    Gabriel
    Real stupidity beats Artifical Intelligence
    Avatar courtesy of A D E P T
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  12. January 30th, 2004, 06:55 AM #12
    zz28
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    Can't explain???

    I finally got the files deleted. I had tried everything. WHat I ended up doing was creatine a new folder and moved the files to the folder. I had tried this before but it would not let me move them. THIS TIME however it did. Once they were in the folder I deleted the folder and emptied the recycle bin. Go figure...like i said, before i could not move the files OR delete them.

    Anyway, thanks guys for all of the suggestions.

    zz
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  13. February 8th, 2004, 07:40 AM #13
    Pendragon
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    safe mode admin... cures most ills...
    Regards Steve...

    (]TSS[)Pendragon
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  14. April 2nd, 2004, 03:57 PM #14
    Snah
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    Same problem, no solution!

    Hello all!

    Been having the same problem for some months; freaking half-downloaded wolfet.exe on my desktop won't let me delete it, stating it is "being used by another program or person". I've tried everything, including safe mode, renaming, dos prompt, changing access rights. A minute ago, I tried moving the file to a new folder, but it wouldn't let me. I was stupid enough to try copying the file into the folder, and now I got two wolfet.exe that won't be deleted! Any suggestions?

    /Snah
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  15. April 2nd, 2004, 04:27 PM #15
    NooNoo
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    Welcome to Windrivers Snah!

    If the hard disk is FAT32 - get a 95/98 startup disk, boot to command prompt and navigate to the file using dos commands. If its ntfs [url=http://www.ntfs.com/products.htm]use this.

    Or use recovery console if its 2k/xp
    Never, ever approach a computer saying or even thinking "I will just do this quickly."
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