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General discussion

Can't Delete File

Mar 12, 2004 5:18AM PST

I have a small image file that I was experimenting with, & now it won't let me delete it or rename it. Is there a way to delete it? The file has nothing to do with windows, so it's safe to delete...IF I could delete it. It was originally a gif, & I renamed it to a png file. So what do I do? Any help would be appreciated!

Discussion is locked

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Re:Can't Delete File
Mar 12, 2004 5:31AM PST
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Re:Can't Delete File
Mar 12, 2004 5:42AM PST

X5,

Just a couple of other possibilities:

1. RIGHT click on the file, choose "Properties", then UNCHECK the box that says "Read Only". Click on "apply", then OK. Now try to delete the file.

2. Restart the computer into "Safe Mode" and see if will delete now.

How to Start In "Safe Mode"

Restart the computer, pressing the F8 key once per second, till it loads a selection screen. Use the up and down arrows to select "Safe Mode", press enter, and the computer will load into a safe mode. It looks like a normal screen but with Safe Mode in each of the four corners. When you?re done, restart the machine and it will boot normally.

Hope this helps.

Grif

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Re:Can't Delete File
Mar 12, 2004 11:52PM PST

I can't download MoveOnBoot, it seems that the download link doesn't work. The file I can't delete is not marked "read only". I checked the properties, & that box is not checked. Any other ideas?

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Re:Re:Can't Delete File
Mar 13, 2004 12:12AM PST

1. Depending on the version of Windows used -- which you didn't say, try the MS-DOS command DELTREE from the command line provided this is not a file on a CD-R disc.

a. Click Start, Programs, MS-DOS Prompt:

b. Change to the drive designation (path) where the affected file or folder resides and type the follow command and then press Enter.

deltree *.*

Note: The DELTREE command removes files and folders without regard to extended characters. CONFIRM only the file(s) or folder(s) wanting to delete.

2. If the procedure in #1 above did not work, boot to the command prompt and perform the same instructions without Windows running in the background.

3. I don't find anything wrong with Bob's suggested link, but you may try DelLater is an ideal and simple program to use when you can't delete a file. To delete a file you simply click Start, Run, type dellater.exe, a space, and then type or copy the file name. Whenever the system is rebooted later, the file is deleted without you even knowing it.

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Re:Can't Delete File
Mar 13, 2004 12:44AM PST

I tried DelLater, but it doesn't seem to work. I did what you said(or at least I tried), but I got an error message. What do I do? Did I do something wrong?

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Nobody can help. . .
Mar 13, 2004 1:05AM PST

unless you explain in full just what you did, how it was done, where it was being done, and what instruction(s) you were following.

Sorry.

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Re:Can't Delete File
Mar 13, 2004 1:03AM PST

Ok, I downloaded MoveOnBoot using another browser, & I marked the file for deletion. I hope it works, thanx for the help!