Looking for free file shredder that works

I'm trying to delete a .dll file and haven't been able to. When I use Windows I get the "access is denied" message. I tried 2 free file-shredders that I found online (AbsluteShield and Simple Shredder). When I ran them I got weird results--the .dll file disappeared but there was a new file in its place, itself undeletable.

I downloaded the file via P2P but it doesn't seem like a virus, and I never actually ran any of the downloaded files. Can anyone recommend an application that could solve this problem?

-cej

 

Tried this > http://www.fileshredder.org/ ?

 

What OS are you running?

 

Sorry, XP

 

I downloaded and tried this one as well, and now I'm 0 for 3. All these free file shredders seem to use the same algorithm, that "Department of Defense" thing. I run the shredder, it doesn't give me an error message but the file is still there afterwards and Windows still won't delete it. Any ideas? I guess I could just leave it there but it's the principle!

 

hmm maybe the dll is used by some running process mate , i would suggest you to recheck if the Dll file is not needed , if its not needed then you close the explorer using Task Manager and delete the files using Command Prompt

 

Not very computer-savvy. How do I find out if the file is used by a running process? I checked the list of processes in the Task Manager but I don't see any way of seeing what files they're using. I also don't know how to delete files via the Command Prompt. Thanks for any clarifications.

 

hmm try this

1. Open a Command Prompt in Admin Mode
2. Then type

Code:

regsvr32 /u [i]filename.dll[/i]

3. now try deleting the file

Let us know if it works :wink:

 

That should solve the problem; basically, once a .dll is registered, XP keeps a safe copy of it stashed in the dll cache and on startup (at least) checks to see if each registered dll has changed since the last time it was checked, if it has changed, the change is assumed to be malevolent, and the dll is simply replaced with a copy from the cached version. That is undoubtedly why it kept reappearing after the apps you used deleted it.

 

Wow..so you've never heard of Unlocker? You can unlock any file which is currently used with any app.

It pins itself to left-click menu, so it's really comfortable to use.
Not to mention it's freeware.

http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/#download

 

Who me ???

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=4319043&postcount=2

:wink: