Q:file that won't delete

  • Thread starter Thread starter pmg
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pmg

i have a empty file on my desktop. when i try to delete it i get an error
that says "file can not be deleted.can not read from the source file or
disk."
tried to drag and drop into recycle bin and get the same result. i have
tried to use malwarebytes file killer option and the program goes through
it's steps and states it is removed but file is still on desktop.
the undesirable file is not "doing" anything to effect the system, but it
annoys me that it's there and unremovable. any suggestions?
 
pmg said:
i have a empty file on my desktop. when i try to delete it i get an
error that says "file can not be deleted.can not read from the
source file or disk."
tried to drag and drop into recycle bin and get the same result. i
have tried to use malwarebytes file killer option and the program
goes through it's steps and states it is removed but file is still
on desktop. the undesirable file is not "doing" anything to effect the
system,
but it annoys me that it's there and unremovable. any suggestions?
Click to expand...

How about giving a name to the file so we would know what it might be?

Safe mode - is it there? Can it be deleted there?

Try:
Unlocker
http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/
 
the name of the file is "sat." (as in Saturday) and there is NO extension
after the period. when i was saving it to the desktop and naming it
initially, i named it "sat." using the period as intended to indicate an
abbreviation (typing habit) and when clicked on save, it saved as "sat."
onto the desktop, with no error message or prompts or anything else. later,
the first time i tried to open it, it asked me to associate a program to
open files with "." extensions and it began to dawn on me what was going on.
i tried associating the file to open with many different things, just for
the hell of it in hopes that would make a difference. as it sits now, i
chose to open "." extensions with the malwarebites program to see if it made
a difference when using malwarebites to kill the file, but it made no
difference. tried deleting it in safe mode, but it did not. i can't
remember if i got the same error message or not since it was some time ago.
as i said it does not seem to be effecting anything but my own OCD. i will
try the unlocker link this afternoon, thank you, and thank you for the
reply. if it matters i am running windows xp sp3. and i though i was asking
questions the smart way, sorry.
 
pmg said:
the name of the file is "sat." (as in Saturday) and there is NO
extension after the period. when i was saving it to the desktop and
naming it initially, i named it "sat." using the period as intended
to indicate an abbreviation (typing habit) and when clicked on
save, it saved as "sat." onto the desktop, with no error message or
prompts or anything else. later, the first time i tried to open it,
it asked me to associate a program to open files with "."
extensions and it began to dawn on me what was going on. i tried
associating the file to open with many different things, just for
the hell of it in hopes that would make a difference. as it sits
now, i chose to open "." extensions with the malwarebites program
to see if it made a difference when using malwarebites to kill the
file, but it made no difference. tried deleting it in safe mode,
but it did not. i can't remember if i got the same error message or
not since it was some time ago. as i said it does not seem to be
effecting anything but my own OCD. i will try the unlocker link
this afternoon, thank you, and thank you for the reply. if it
matters i am running windows xp sp3. and i though i was asking
questions the smart way, sorry.
Click to expand...

Thinking the signature is directed towards you specifically? Been there for
years, haven't changed it - not directed towards anyone specifically.

So you actually created this file originally and you cannot erase it - even
in safe mode or with MalwareBytes tools?

Have you tried the UnLocker program I directed you to?

Can you open the file with WordPad, add to it and save it again?

What happens if you try to rename it?

When was the last time you did a CHKDSK on your system?
 
shenan-
yes i had created it originally, and it was a supposed to be saved as a
".txt" extension. tried to open it, by associating it with many programs,
and WordPad was one of the first. all resulted in getting the error that it
could not be read from source file or disk, hence it would not open. i will
try the unlocker program you directed me to, thanks, i will have to wait
till i am at home on my pc. same results when trying to rename it, and
though malware tools says it has deleted the file, it still is on desktop
where it was created. the file exist nowhere else but the desktop, where i
first saved it. malwarebites DID in fact erase the CONTENT of the file, by
that i mean when i click on properties the file size reads as 0 bytes
whereas it used to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 1.88kb. it's a
strange puzzle for sure given my knowledge and abilities. i have done a
chkdsk probably once or twice since the file was created, as part of routine
maintenance, as well as defrag (jkdefrag and windows defrag)regularly. i run
spybot, malwarebites, antivir, super anti spyware, and on occasion run
ccleaner, though i'm not obsessed with cleaning the registry. mainly it gets
rid of items from programs that no longer exist on the pc, and that have
been left behind.
no i don't think the sig was directed specifically to me just wanted to let
u know i do try to be thorough when asking questions but more importantly
brief. no offense taken, nor intended to give!
again thanks for the unlocker link and will try that and post back results.
thank you,
pemo
 
unlocker worked 1-2-3.
that program is a keeper for sure. thank you. will try to make a paypal
donation for that, happily.
pemo

pmg said:
shenan-
yes i had created it originally, and it was a supposed to be saved as a
".txt" extension. tried to open it, by associating it with many programs,
and WordPad was one of the first. all resulted in getting the error that
it could not be read from source file or disk, hence it would not open. i
will try the unlocker program you directed me to, thanks, i will have to
wait till i am at home on my pc. same results when trying to rename it,
and though malware tools says it has deleted the file, it still is on
desktop where it was created. the file exist nowhere else but the desktop,
where i first saved it. malwarebites DID in fact erase the CONTENT of the
file, by that i mean when i click on properties the file size reads as 0
bytes whereas it used to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 1.88kb. it's
a strange puzzle for sure given my knowledge and abilities. i have done a
chkdsk probably once or twice since the file was created, as part of
routine maintenance, as well as defrag (jkdefrag and windows
defrag)regularly. i run spybot, malwarebites, antivir, super anti spyware,
and on occasion run ccleaner, though i'm not obsessed with cleaning the
registry. mainly it gets rid of items from programs that no longer exist
on the pc, and that have been left behind.
no i don't think the sig was directed specifically to me just wanted to
let u know i do try to be thorough when asking questions but more
importantly brief. no offense taken, nor intended to give!
again thanks for the unlocker link and will try that and post back
results.
thank you,
pemo
Click to expand...
 
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