Cannot delete file from computer

Question

I can usually handle problems like this without any trouble, but this one has me confused...   I've got this video file that I guess my buddy downloaded and something's really messed up about it. It's called 'dudeonbike   gets hit    byacar.mpg(2).mpg'. (Yes, it does have the spaces like that in the file name)   Anyway, I saw it, and I'm like, I'm gonna watch that... but it wouldn't open. It wasn't a valid file extention. So I figured that I'd change it so it would work, well, whenever I right click on it, it gives me two options Play and Send To. I hadn't ever seen anything like that before, so I used keyboard shortcuts to try to delete it. Nothing seems to work and I don't get any error messages saying it can't be deleted.   So then, I went to Hijackthis and tried to remove it with that, but it said that it can't because it's not a valid file extention?   I've ruled out spyware/malware because I updated and did a scan the yesterday, and I don't run an antivirus anymore because I personally feel that I don't need it, but there is a very slim chance this could be a virus. I seriously doubt it though because my firewall hasn't alerted me of any suspicious outgoing traffic from an unknown file.   I'm out of ideas... Anyone have a suggestion?   Thanks Jason

windowsxp550 · Answer

Here are a few things to try:

1. Change it an extension that your computer does recognize (like .txt or .doc) then try to remove it. If that doesn't work try to change it back to the extension that it was when you downloaded it...

2. Try booting into safe mode, then remove it.

See if that works....and post back to let me know

Downshift · Answer

I can't rename the file, therefore I can't change the file extention, unless there's some other way that I've forgotten?   I just got done trying the safe mode thing... Nothing. Same results as in normal boot. :smileysad:

Jplmj · Answer

Jason, I don't have a better solution than to reboot in safe mode. If you can find the path where the file is located, you could run the command prompt and go in and used the old DOS command to delete it. What I wanted to comment on was the statement that you don't run Anti-Virus programs as "you don't feel you need them". My hat is off to you sir, YOU are the only one in the world that doesn't need one. You truely are lucky. If Bill Gates uses an anti-virus program, then you are one up on him.

Best recommendation for anti-virus I can make is AVG at www.grisoft.com . It's free, granted you have to look for the link on their main site, but it is there. Small foot print, great results.

Live Long and Prosper

jplmj

Jplmj · Answer

Jason, no insult taken, just sounded kinda wierd, everyone needs some form of Anti Virus.  Firewalls don't stop virus' they stop people from hacking into your pc.  That's all.  Virus' can be simple text files built into a web site, even an ebay ad.  Best besafe than sorry and AVG doesn't slow your system down, it runs in the back ground, small foot print, you don't even see it there, UNTIL IT GOES TO WORK.  I've used it for years, and as soon as I put an infected floppy into the drive, it alerts me before I can get back to the keyboard.   JPLMJ

windowsxp550 · Answer

Ok, here are a few more things to try:

Open Notepad and type in anything.

Click on File => Save As and navigate to your Desktop folder.
In the 'Save as type' drop-down box select 'All Files' and Save the file as the offending file
overwriting it. Now try deleting it.

If that doesn't work, write down what the file is named. then go to start Run: then type CMD

Then type (hit enter at each line)
cd desktop
dir /x /a
del EXACTFILENAME.MPG

Where EXACTFILENAME.MPG is whatever the filename is (including the extension which you said was .MPG)

Message Edited by windowsxp550 on 05-11-200611:11 PM

Downshift · Answer

I tried both suggestions, only to get the same results as before, even in CMD.   I did however get a bit creative with trying to delete, rename, anything with this file and did manage to delete it by dragging an MP3 over to the location in which this troublesome file was at, highlighting both files, then renaming the MP3 file to whatever it was, then I randomly put a 2 before the .mp3. That, in turn, renamed the troublesome file to the mp3 name (copy 2). Somehow, that fixed the problem and I was able to delete the file without any problem.   Like I mentioned, I do believe that I might give AVG a try and see what it'll do for me. I suppose the only harm that it could do is slow it down just a tad, but I don't guess it's really that important.   Thanks for the suggestions! :smileyhappy: Jason

Downshift · Answer

@Jplmj wrote:

What I wanted to comment on was the statement that you don't run Anti-Virus programs as "you don't feel you need them". My hat is off to you sir, YOU are the only one in the world that doesn't need one. You truely are lucky. If Bill Gates uses an anti-virus program, then you are one up on him.

Yes, I understand, it was a bit of a foolish comment to make, but in my case, it seems completely useless... I know EVERYTHING that goes in and out on my computer (networking wise), I know every file that's running, I don't get much mail, and even then, all mail is filtered and I only open mail that is from people I know, as long as it doesn't have an attachment. I don't go to many other sites besides Ebay and a few automotive forums. To be more specific about what I'm trying to say here... I don't "go looking for trouble" in the sense that I'm out there hitting up every site that I can find on the internet. Gaming sites, pornography sites, etc... they're all loaded with junk, and I know it, and that's how I keep my system so clean.

Course, who's to say I don't have a virus on my computer? I may very well have one, but then again, I may not. Please don't take what I've just said in the wrong way. It wasn't meant to insult you, or anyone else, it's just my feelings on what I do. Not running an antivirus makes my machine much faster, and I'm looking for every bit of fast I can pull out of this thing, even if it means "not locking my front door".

I'll check into AVG and will more than likely end up using it for a few weeks, then decide from there on it's fate. Thanks a lot for the suggestion(s).

Jason

msil217 · Answer

AVG won't slow your computer down noticeably. A virus(s) will not only slow down your computer, but it can make it inoperable. And you can lose some or all of your files.

Spyware can be as bad, if not worse. You'll want to scan for spyware too.

A good Anti-Virus and anti-Spyware for a computer is like an immunization against diseases is for people.

Windows General

Cannot delete file from computer

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