Many a times when we try to delete a file Windows show an error that the file is being used or some other message and we are unable to delete it. This often happens when the file is infected.

Here is a way to delete any file:
Go to Start>>Run>>cmd
Type in the path where the file is located (eg. "cd c:\temp" ), don’t close this window
Press ctrl + alt + del
In processes panel close "Explorer.exe" (you would see that taskbar disappears), dont close the window
In the command screen delete the file ( del filename )
In the task manager click File >> New task >> Explorer.exe
Taskbar reappears and the file deletes.

This is quite a usefull trick.
If anyone know any other easier way to do the same then please share it

Speedy

It can be due:

- You are trying to delete an active process, a program that is running in RAM while you try to delete it. Some active use other files that will be write protected too.

- It isn't an active process but a document currently opened by another program. i.e.: you are deleting a doc file while reading it with word.

- You opened before a data file and the system considers it's still active. I.e.: the same of the doc file, but you already closed it. If you want to delete it without restarting, you can use the file/open window of that program and delete it.

Now, this is something new that I haven't tried before. I've run into some problems in XP with files that just won't get deleted. It's usually some movie file which is taking up a whole lot of space. Sometimes, I couldn't delete the file even after rebooting the system in safe mode. It just won't go. I even tried some software that supposedly kills the app which has the stronghold on the file but it just doesn't work. The next time I run into this problem I'll give this a try. Have you tried it before?

Dont worry Abhiram, I have tried it before. It is exactly as you have described. Sometimes a audio file or even a folder wont delete no matter how much you try. Sometimes it refuses to delete even after reboot, if it doesn't delete like this also in that case you should try to start computer in safe mode and do the same as above.

Thanks for reply guys
Speedy

Hehe - just make sure you know what you're deleting so you don't have to reinstall the entire OS after you accidentally dump something important.

I haven't had any problems with file errors like this - well, no problems that weren't fixed by closing the app. or rebooting the system, anyway. I'll keep this in mind if those solutions don't work in the future.

Yep, be sure that is not a critical process of your system. hehe.

If you cannot delete it in safe mode be careful.

If you want to by-pass the recylce folder, press shift key at the same time you delete the file. If you are in doubt, type the file name into google and find information about.

Wonder if this work on the index.dat files used to store IE history. Its open by IE from bootup till shutdown. Quite hard to delete by conventional means.

Euh... There's a button to delete the IE history didn't you know?

Anyway, if you can't delete a file which you are supposed to be able to delete, it's in use by something. So what you can do is just close that program (as mentioned above) or insert a line into the autoexec.bat that can be found in your C:\ directory.eg.


autoexec.bat is a batch file that is executed everytime just before the system is fully boot up (should be already existing in your c drive)

I thought autoexec.bat was only used upto windows 98 and it's significance has depreciated since windows 2000. The AUTOEXEC.BAT file in my Windows XP is completely blank. Are you sure it'll work? I wonder why it's there in the first place when it's completely blank.

i will use it, but how about this problem:

=> The CMD command refuses to work, i.e. when 'cmd' the window open, and closes immediately!

how to solve that?