File will not delete

I have a file on my desktop that I want to delete but whenever I try windows pops up saying "Cannon delete :It is being used by another person or program". I cant think of any program that would be using it for anything. Its a .exe file and when you go into its properties it has all the DOS stuff.

I've tried restarting the computer in safe mode but it still gives the same message. It's not spyware or a virus or anything, it was part of an application that didn't work.

Any thoughts on how to get rid of it?

 

Might it be part of a failed install that is still trying to finish? Maybe it's in the start up menu and so your PC is trying to start it and it hung, which is why it thinks the file is in use?

 

They are quite frequent on network drives (AFAIK): the only solution (AFAIK) there is to shut down the network and restart it.

 

1. Try deleting it from the Administrator account (it won't show up on the admin desktop, but your desktop file is stored at C:\Documents and Settings\(username)\Desktop

 

If you go into the Process tab in Task Manager, is it listed? If so, kill it there first, then delete it. There's probably a reference in the Start menu (or registry) that's starting it on boot, so if you get a 'File not found' message on boot-up afterwards, you'll need to track that down as well.

 

There are several 'delete on reboot' programs available. Those usually work.

 

Share it, right click and go to properties and turn it on there...it always works then...To what I read in Windows XP - Networking ... a book lol

 

If all else fails, try Delete FXP Files:

http://www.jrtwine.com/Products/DelFXPFiles/index.htm

There's a free version and there is little that it won't remove. Caveat emptor... once it's gone, it's gone...