How to delete from a command prompt.

Question

I have 3 files, which my grandson downloaded , that I've been trying to get rid of. Needless to say, he's been banned from my computer. The name starts out 'pokemo ~3.bmp'. Probably some have heard or read of this thing. Complete name is very long and has language that would make a sailor blush. The thing will open in ms paint, but  there is no preview. In doing a google search, the recommendation was to delete from a command prompt. Knowing absolutely nothing about command prompts, I proceded to try this. In the prompt screen after the 'oldyeller38>', I typed \userdata\del bad  \pokemo~3.bmp, hit enter, nothing. The complete file path is: c:\ documents and settings \oldyeller38\userdata\bad. I made up this folder BAD to put these things in. Could someone tell me exactly what to type and in what order to delete this. Also should I do this from windows or reboot to safe mode with a command prompt? This is what I've tried so far. Simple right click and delete; when right clicking there is no provision for renaming. I've tried sending to a floppy disc, no go. Tried deleting in safe mode, no go again. Tried left clicking and dragging to trash bin, denied. I'm at my wits(what little I've got left) end. Need help bad. I certainly would like to get rid of this thing. Any advice greatly appreciated.

twhited · Answer

Start the command prompt from Windows Start menu. All commands in bold should be followed by the Enter key......

At the command prompt, make sure you are in the "bad" directory: cd c:\documents and settings\oldyeller38\userdata\bad

Try: del *.*

If this fails, type in: attrib -r *.* and press enter. Then retry del *.* again. If this works, type cd.. and press enter, and then rd bad to remove the directory named bad.

Please post back with results.

It's been a LONG time since I used DOS commands.

oldyeller · Answer

twhited: When the command prompt window opened the following was already displayed: C:\Documents and Settings\oldyeller38>, to this I typed
\UserData\bad del*.* and hit enter. I get this message' The system cannot find the path specified'. After the C:\Documents and Settings\oldyeller38> comes up again I again type:\UserData\bad attrib-r*.* and hit enter. I get the same message. Then I type \UserData\bad attrib-r*.* del*.*, hit enter and get the same message. Would you have any other suggestions? Thanks

Dave Lyle · Answer

Expanding on what twhited said....

If the file in question is the only file in the ..\bad directory, or as long as there is nothing else there you want to save: Try deleting the entire .../bad directory directly from Windows. If unsuccessful, what error message do you get?

or...
From the command prompt, go to
c:\documents and settings\oldyeller38\userdata\bad.

Type dir [enter] and confirm the file is actually there. Assuming it is, try the 'del poke*.* [enter]' again.

If no joy, you could try 'ren poke*.* bad.* [enter]' and then
'del bad.* [enter]'

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