Error Deleting File or Folder

Hi ya'll, i have a file i would like to delete. When i try deleting it, it gives me an error stating: "Cannot delete ### it is being used by another program. Close any programs that might be using it and try again". any suggestions? is there any software i can use? thanks in advance.

 

Have you tried restarting in safe mode (F8 during boot), then deleting it?

 

I'd try it from the administrator account in safe mode. I've also found that sometimes, if you can't delete a file, you can either rename it or the folder it's in, which changes it's location, and sometimes this will affect the permissions enough that you can delete it (this is mostly a comment on spyware type files, its something I picked up when I was doing tech support -- its not a reliable trick by any means)

 

just a small warning: make sure that that file is not, say, an MS Windows essential file so, for example, Windows won't stop booting after you delete the file

 

i would just follow the intruction - close the app, stop the service
. or open up a dos box and use DEL to zap it

one of many:
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7374516~days=9999~start=20

still, "DO U REALLY WANT TO DEL THIS FILE?" is the disclaimer

cheers ...

 

Unlocker ( http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker) worked very well for me.

 

Another way of deleting these files is to just write a batch script (.bat file) to execute before Windows fully loads

A good primer can be found here.
Basically make a delete.bat file, with the files listed inside you want deleted and restart computer.
DEL - Deletes file
DELTREE - Deletes folder

 

thank you all for your help

 

Theres a tool for deleting a file on rebuilt built in to hijackthis.

 

I use unlocker as well. for some reason Explorer locks the TIFF files created by my RAW conversion software, unlocker allows them to be deleted

 

what i do is i just restart and then try deleting it

 

Sometimes you can delete such files by pressing Shift-Delete. Files deleted that way are not sent to the Recycle Bin so you can't get them back if you change your mind.