How to delete phantom file?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Don
  • Start date Start date
D

Don

I have a JPG image shown but when I try to do anything
with it, primarily DELETE, Win XP tells me "it can't
be found. It has a pathname, but of course that does
no good if there's no object. How do I get rid of the
listing?
Thanks...
Don
 
Don said:
I have a JPG image shown but when I try to do anything
with it, primarily DELETE, Win XP tells me "it can't
be found. It has a pathname, but of course that does
no good if there's no object. How do I get rid of the
listing?
Click to expand...

Different things to try:

1. Delete the file in Safe Mode. To get into Safe Mode, repeatedly tap the
F8 key as the computer is starting up. Use your arrow key to select Safe
Mode.

2. If #1 didn't work, try the free Unlocker utility.
http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/

3. If #1 and 2 didn't work, run a Chkdsk /f.

How to perform disk error checking in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265/en-us

Malke
 
Malke said:
Different things to try:

1. Delete the file in Safe Mode. To get into Safe Mode, repeatedly tap the
F8 key as the computer is starting up. Use your arrow key to select Safe
Mode.

2. If #1 didn't work, try the free Unlocker utility.
http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/

3. If #1 and 2 didn't work, run a Chkdsk /f.

How to perform disk error checking in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265/en-us

Malke
Click to expand...

Thank you Malke,
I don't have time right now but it is a straight
forward recipe, I did click on Run "chkdsk/F" and
found I don't have chkdsk on this computer. I'll
Google for it and get it installed.
Don
 
Hello,

You need to have a space between the 'K' and '/':
CHKDSK /F

__
http://www.bootstrike.com/ComputerService/
Singapore Computer Home Remote On-Site Repair Service
Click to expand...

Thank you for the information.

When the operation failed the first time I ran another
session *with* the "<sp> /F" I finally told Chkdsk to
run the *next time the computer started*, I just
finished that run and it appeared to do a complete
scan. Nothing was reported from that scan. Is there
some way to find out the results?

Don
 
Don said:
Thank you for the information.

When the operation failed the first time I ran another session *with*
the "<sp> /F" I finally told Chkdsk to run the *next time the computer
started*, I just finished that run and it appeared to do a complete
scan. Nothing was reported from that scan. Is there some way to find
out the results?
Click to expand...

Look in the Software log (Winlogon) in the Event Viewer.

John
 
John said:
Look in the Software log (Winlogon) in the Event Viewer.

John
Click to expand...

Hi John,
How do I find it? I found several copies of
Windows/system32/winlogon.exe but don't know what to
do with them. I found the Event Viewer but not sure
what to look for. I do find
 
I have a JPG image shown but when I try to do anything with it, primarily
DELETE, Win XP tells me "it can't be found. It has a pathname, but of
course that does no good if there's no object. How do I get rid of the
listing?
Thanks...
Don
Click to expand...

Hi Don,

"Shown" where? What listing? Is it something in a folder? An actual picture
being displayed in some sort of viewer program? Something in Temporary
Internet Files? Or maybe something that was in the History folder that got
deleted without updating the index.dat? What is the file name? What is the
exact message you get when trying to delete it?
--Richard
 
Richard said:
Hi Don,

"Shown" where? What listing? Is it something in a folder? An actual picture
being displayed in some sort of viewer program? Something in Temporary
Internet Files? Or maybe something that was in the History folder that got
deleted without updating the index.dat? What is the file name? What is the
exact message you get when trying to delete it?
--Richard
Click to expand...
Hi Richard,
Thanks for the response.

I tried to view the file in an image viewer/editor, in
this case Paint Shop Pro. It is simply an item
entitled, "Home.jpg". The exact message I saw was the
typical, "File not found."

I don't remember the other details because we had a
power outage and I had to take the computer to a
repair shop and the repairman's comment was that "CC
Cleaner" found and removed many errors.

I hope that answers your questions.
Don
 
Don said:
Hi John,
How do I find it? I found several copies of
Windows/system32/winlogon.exe but don't know what to do with them. I
found the Event Viewer but not sure what to look for. I do find
Click to expand...

Sorry. In the Event Viewer look in the Application log. Look for Event
1001 from Source Winlogon. Double click on the event to open it.

John
 
John said:
Sorry. In the Event Viewer look in the Application log. Look for Event
1001 from Source Winlogon. Double click on the event to open it.

John
Click to expand...

Hi John,

I followed your instructions and the file was not
there. I had previously run CC Cleaner and that must
have removed the file. But I'll keep your
instructions in a FF file for future reference.
Thank you.
 
:

Hi Richard,
Thanks for the response.

I tried to view the file in an image viewer/editor, in this case Paint
Shop Pro. It is simply an item entitled, "Home.jpg". The exact message I
saw was the typical, "File not found."

I don't remember the other details because we had a power outage and I had
to take the computer to a repair shop and the repairman's comment was that
"CC Cleaner" found and removed many errors.

I hope that answers your questions.
Don
Click to expand...

Hi again Don,
It is still not clear to me "where" you are seeing the "listing" of the
file. If it is showing up in the MRU (Most Recently Used) list on the File
menu of PSP, that does not mean it still exists. Does it show up in a file
search of your drive?
Start> Search for files and folders> Home.jpg
If it shows up in search, right click and click Open containing folder.
--Richard
 
I have a JPG image shown but when I try to do anything
with it, primarily DELETE, Win XP tells me "it can't
be found.  It has a pathname, but of course that does
no good if there's no object.  How do I get rid of the
listing?
Thanks...
Don
Click to expand...

If you can browse to the file with Windows Explorer and still can't
delete it, try killbox. Killbox will do the unlocking for you if
needed and also offer you various delete and backup options.

It is a quick download with nothing to install or remove (it is just
an executable) and backups just in case.

killbox.net

If chkdsk runs automatically on reboot, the results are in the Event
Viewer.

I glad someone mentioned the problem with those stuck counters.

My counters get stuck frequently, but I think I know why now. Once,
I had to reboot 3 times to unstick them all.
 
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