Lookin' for some help here.
I run Win XP SP2, and get occasional files on my HDD which are listed by some app associated w/ them as "corrupt - unable to read".
So, I try to delete them and it's a no-go.
And yet, they are perfectly happy to let me rename them and/or move them to the Recycle bin (or often move 'em to another folder on the disk - I have a special folder I created called "biteme" - where I usually end up moving them), where they stubbornly resist any and all efforts to destroy them.
I have tried various freeware/OSS/portable file deletion apps to get rid of them, and the files just sit there, laughing at me. Even the popular (around these parts) "Eraser" is impotent against these mighty and evil files.
What really kills me is that the error message which alerts me to their presence - else, the error message that pops up when I try and delete them, often says something like "cannot read from file - file is corrupt", or somesuch.
And yet, if the system cannot "read" the file, then how come it shows up in the File Manager 100% of the time?...
In any event, does anyone have any advice to lend me regarding this frustrating problem?... Thx in advance.
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First thing I'd do is try out Unlocker and use that to "unlock" the folders/files you want to delete.
If that doesn't work, get a Linux live CD and delete them using that.
(Btw, this is a known bug in Windows and Microsoft [AFAIK] hasn't done anything to address it.)
"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning." - Rick Cook
cmd
Insert original signature here with Greasemonkey Script.
Using the command prompt doesn't change anything. The problem is an executable (usually EXPLORER.EXE) is tying itself to a file, so you can't delete it. It's a known bug in Windows. You can usually get around this by using Unlocker (as I mentioned above) or using a Linux live CD (you can do anything to the hard drive this way).
"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning." - Rick Cook
No, if it's explorer you get "File in use" message.
"Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do." Asimov
chkdsk
"Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do." Asimov
You have to reformat your drive or use a disk repair utiliy. I had the same problem with my USB Stick utill I started up a computer with the USB plugged in. Then, while booting, the Windows disk repair utility fixed it saying something was "cross linked". I belive your HD may require a similar solution.
self.path = path if self.path == None else self.path
You can use unlocker to unlock the file. Reformatting the hard drive because explorer.exe is locking a file is silly and completely unnecessary.
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." Winston Churchill
...Unlocker was a non-starter here (that is, it never got off the starting blocks, and did NOTHING to help the situation)...
Thx for the thought, though.
(FWIW, tho', I admit I haven't yet tried any DOS-based tools to try & remedy the situation. Mebbe that's the next step...)
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- Brad Stine