Can't Delete File. Help!

Watch5869 · Post by **Watch5869** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 8:58 pm

I moved an e-mail attached file to my desktop. Now I can't delete it. I get an error message: "Cannot delete file: Cannot read from source file or disk" Can anyone tell me how to delete this file?

Thanks

Mad_Haggis · Post by **Mad_Haggis** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 9:55 pm

I've always found the best way to delete nasty files is to start the computer up in DOS mode from a floppy disk, and manually delete(DEL.EXE) the file.

ARS · Post by **ARS** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 10:34 pm

Watch5869 wrote:I moved an e-mail attached file to my desktop. Now I can't delete it. I get an error message: "Cannot delete file: Cannot read from source file or disk" Can anyone tell me how to delete this file?

Thanks

- Open Task Manager and display the Processes panel. Leave it open until
told to close it later.
- Kill all instances of the explorer.exe process.
- The desktop GUI will disappear.
- Use the File -> New Task in Task Manager to open a DOS shell (run
"cmd.exe").
- In the DOS shell, navigate to the path for the problematic file and then
use the "del" command to delete it.
- Enter "exit" in the DOS shell to close it.
- In Task Manager, use the File -> New Task to start a new instance of
"explorer.exe".
- The desktop GUI reappears.
- Close Task Manager.
------------------------------------

BTW, I am sure you could have found an answer with what you quoted at google.com... even leave the quotes around your error which looks up the exact phrase... narrows down a lot of searches if you get lucky.

Google rocks

ARS · Post by **ARS** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 10:36 pm

I just tried google with the EXACT phrase you typed here..

this webpage was the most helpful: http://www.emagic.co.nz/tech/error-dele ... older.html

Keep in mind, any search engine rocks on inquires like these

Mad_Haggis · Post by **Mad_Haggis** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 11:11 pm

Note, sometimes nasty files will not delete in windows dos shell.

morbidpete · Post by **morbidpete** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 11:27 pm

try this

https://www.speedguide.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=172398

Watch5869 · Post by **Watch5869** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 7:42 pm

morbidpete wrote:try this

https://www.speedguide.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=172398

I tried this but get an error message: "Cannot Import [Path] [filename] The specified file is not a registry script. You can only import binary registry files from within the registry editor"

Did I do something wrong?

Sava700 · Post by **Sava700** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 7:47 pm

use something like EDR commander and delete it without being in windows.

morbidpete · Post by **morbidpete** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 8:44 pm

you on vista?

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 9:47 pm

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Boo ... Boot.shtml