Try to delete the file from Safe Mode. If that doesn't work, try MoveOnBoot.

Cannot guarantee it will work, but you can try unlocker.

HERE

Or Google "taking ownership of a file or folder in XP"

And try those suggestions. Good luck!!

(did you try in safe mode???

I finally got rid of the unwanted files.  Safe mode alone did not work.  It required going into Safe Mode as Administrator and modifying the file and folder Permissions under the Security tab rather extensively.  Something definitely went awry on this PC.  As Windows XP Home hides the permissions from the typical user, it made it that much harder to clean things up.  I still have no idea what went wrong in the first place.  It's probably just too many patches, applications, and utilities all trying to plug the security holes in Windows.  Thanks to all for the insights.