Deletion problems

[Pauline]

I am having two similar issues, and if I can figure one
out, I might be able to figure out the other.

a while back, I had a file that I couldn't delete. At
first, it said it was in use (nothing I could find was
using it, it was a file that I had downloaded, and didn't
install, didn't view, etc.) After much fiddling with it,
it somehow became a directory. Since this time, I have
managed to 'stash' it in the recycler (tho still not
delete it - doesn't even show up in the recycle bin). I
have tried everything...changing the properties so it
isn't read-only, I have tried renaming it (not possible),
moving it, deleting it...same error. I have even gone
into MSDos prompt, and tried deleting it that way,
changing permissions, etc. Nothing.

Then, yesterday, I got another similar file.
Undeleteable. No matter what I do, it won't let me delete
it. The twist with this one, is that once I try to access
it (rename, move, delete, etc) my CPU useage rockets up to
100%, and stays that way until a reboot. Other processes
run, but anything they give up in resources, are stolen by
explorer.

The only thing I can think of in common with these two
files, is that they are/were both video files (avi's I
think, but I could be wrong), and they have 'funny'
names. One was really long with lots of spaces, and the
other hand funky (non-english I'm guessing) characters.

How on earth do I get these deleted. They are quit large
(almost 700M each), and I would really like my HD space
back.....no to mention the fact that it just doesn't sit
well with me that I can't remove a file that I put there
in the first place.

Any help is appreciated. If possible, please e-mail
responses, and I don't often check in here. Thanx.

--
Pauline

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Pauline,

With .avi files, you often need to first delete them from the playlist in
Windows Media Player. Afterwards, you should be able to delete the actual
file itself. You might also check this from MVP Kelly:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks2.htm

Look under the "Fixes for WinXP" for how to delete an undeletable file.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org

"Pauline" > wrote in message
...
> I am having two similar issues, and if I can figure one
> out, I might be able to figure out the other.
>
> a while back, I had a file that I couldn't delete. At
> first, it said it was in use (nothing I could find was
> using it, it was a file that I had downloaded, and didn't
> install, didn't view, etc.) After much fiddling with it,
> it somehow became a directory. Since this time, I have
> managed to 'stash' it in the recycler (tho still not
> delete it - doesn't even show up in the recycle bin). I
> have tried everything...changing the properties so it
> isn't read-only, I have tried renaming it (not possible),
> moving it, deleting it...same error. I have even gone
> into MSDos prompt, and tried deleting it that way,
> changing permissions, etc. Nothing.
>
> Then, yesterday, I got another similar file.
> Undeleteable. No matter what I do, it won't let me delete
> it. The twist with this one, is that once I try to access
> it (rename, move, delete, etc) my CPU useage rockets up to
> 100%, and stays that way until a reboot. Other processes
> run, but anything they give up in resources, are stolen by
> explorer.
>
> The only thing I can think of in common with these two
> files, is that they are/were both video files (avi's I
> think, but I could be wrong), and they have 'funny'
> names. One was really long with lots of spaces, and the
> other hand funky (non-english I'm guessing) characters.
>
> How on earth do I get these deleted. They are quit large
> (almost 700M each), and I would really like my HD space
> back.....no to mention the fact that it just doesn't sit
> well with me that I can't remove a file that I put there
> in the first place.
>
> Any help is appreciated. If possible, please e-mail
> responses, and I don't often check in here. Thanx.
>
> --
> Pauline
>