How do I delete a file which Windows says is "in use" ?

PoBoy

PoBoy

Herald
Hi,
I recently d/l a DOS zip/unzip program unzip32. I ran it from Windows Me to test it ( btw, it works ). I wanted to move it to another folder, but windows just won't let me move or delete it. Error message : "Cannot delete unzip32.exe: Access is denied. The source file may be in use.". This has continued for several days and many reboots.

How do I delete/move the file from Windows? Don't ask me boot to DOS.

Thanks.
 
See if the program is running at the back... see from the taskmanager.... kill the process n try deletin' it...

otherwise

uninstall the program...
 
PoBoy said:
Hi,
I recently d/l a DOS zip/unzip program unzip32. I ran it from Windows Me to test it ( btw, it works ). I wanted to move it to another folder, but windows just won't let me move or delete it. Error message : "Cannot delete unzip32.exe: Access is denied. The source file may be in use.". This has continued for several days and many reboots.

How do I delete/move the file from Windows? Don't ask me boot to DOS.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Have you tried booting into the safe mode and then move the file ?

Or you can disable all your startup items from msconfig and then try to move/delete the file.
 
FYI : the program is not running. I checked using Process Explorer and Startup Monitor.

Unlocker is only for Win XP/2000.

Don't have Nero, will try it.

Might just boot to DOS and delete it.
 
safe boot wont help.you better use that tool i mentioned in the above post which is small,neat and compact that allows you to select the file to delete and then it is deleted in the next reboot
 
This is getting real weird. Copied the file to another folder, same prob - can't delete the copied file. Copied the file to a USB drive, same prob. Took the USB drive to another PC, same prob there too !
 
Hate to go on and on about this, but it's really bugging me. I downloaded the file ( ftp://ftp.delorie.com/pub/djgpp/current/unzip32.exe ) once again. Did not do anything with the file. The file cannot be deleted. Wonder what makes this file 'undeletable'. I use Win Me, if someone has Win XP / 2000, and is game, please download the file and try to delete it. It's just 95kb. If I was a virus writer, I'd be interested - Imagine a undeleteable virus.
 
It happened to me once. I saw in Process Manager, but no Process was associated wid the file. All I did was killed Explorer.exe and then ran command prompt by clicking on 'New Task' and typing 'cmd' in it. Navigate to the folder and delete the file. I think this will do.
 
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