In Windows systems, we will inevitably encounter situations where files cannot be deleted using conventional methods. Especially for users who use Windows XP systems, they encounter such problems more frequently. To relieve users' confusion, we will try to effectively delete those stubborn files through various unconventional means.
1. Common ways to delete stubborn files
1. After restarting the Windows operating system, delete the file in the usual way.
2. Use commands such as Del and Deltree to delete in the DOS (or command prompt) interface.
3. Use third-party tools that are not Windows Explorer to delete, such as Total Commander, ACDSee, FlashFXP, Nero and other software with folder browsing function.
4. If you have installed more than two operating systems, you can delete files from other operating systems in the current system.
5. Press F8 key at startup to select to enter safe mode to perform the deletion operation.
Below, we will conduct a specific analysis of specific issues and introduce to you the unconventional methods that should be taken when files cannot be deleted due to various reasons.
2. Delete the file "other programs are using"
Problem manifestation:
In Windows XP system, you are preparing to delete a large-capacity AVI format file, but the system always prompts that it cannot perform the deletion operation. Other programs are used, even when you first start the computer and enter the Windows system.
Problem Solving:
Method 1: Open Notepad, click "File" → "Save As" in the menu bar. The naming file is the same as the file name you want to delete (including the extension), and then replace it. You will find that the capacity has become 0 KB. At this time, just execute the delete command.
Method 2: Create a new folder in the same directory as that AVI file and restart. Now, don’t select the AVI file. First select the newly created folder, and then press the Ctrl key + the AVI file at the same time to perform the deletion operation.
Method 3: Change the extension of the AVI file to any other invalid file type, and then perform the deletion operation.
Method 4: There is a one-time and for all method to disable Windows XP's media preview function, click "Start" → "Run", enter: "CMD" and press Enter. Then enter: regsvr32 /u in the "Command Prompt" window
After the Enter confirmation operation, the preview function of the video file will be uninstalled. In the future, when you need to restore the video file preview function, enter the regsvr32 command in the "Command Prompt".
Method 5: Start the media player that once played that AVI file and open another file. After that, try to delete it.
Method 6: You can delete it with WinRAR program, right-click the AVI file, select "Add to compressed file" in the pop-up menu, and then select the "Delete source file after compression" check box in the "General" tab of the pop-up window. After confirming the operation, perform the compression operation. Finally, delete the compressed file.
Method 7: Call out "Windows Task Manager", where you select to end the Explorer process, but do not close the window at this time. At this time, it will cause a crash. We switch to the Applications tab, click the "New Task" button, enter and confirm the operation. After that, the desktop returns to normal again, and then execute the delete operation.
3. Cleverly delete "non-empty folder" or "bad files"
Problem manifestation:
Under Windows XP system (NTFS partition format), the specified file cannot be deleted in both Explorer and third-party tools. For example, if you use Total Commander to delete it, the folder is not empty first, and there will be no response after confirmation. Even if you use the DOS disk to boot and load the readable and writeable version of ntfs for dos pro, it cannot be deleted. It prompts that it is a "bad file name", but you can see the folder.
Problem Solving:
The inability to delete files in this case is likely due to long file names in NTFS format. We can use the 8.3 format to reduce the length or change some directory names in the path to reduce the length of the path. For example, you can temporarily change the name of certain directories in the path, or use the 8.3 format in command line mode. For example, if the directory "Linux Faq" becomes 8.3, it means "LINUXF~1". You can enter the directory through "Linuxf~1". After that, you can use the Del command to delete the specified file. If you need to delete the directory, use the Rd command.
4. Cleverly delete the file "specified program or file is in use"
Problem manifestation:
When executing the delete file operation, the system prompts the specified program or file in a pop-up dialog box that the specified program or file is in use and cannot be deleted.
Problem Solving:
Method 1: For this kind of situation, we can solve the problem by ending the relevant process of pre-delete files. So, how can we know which processes are specified files associated with? You can use the WhoLockMe gadget to find out. We run "" to install the program first.
Next, enter the directory where the pre-delete file is located, right-click the file, and select "Who Lock Me?" in the pop-up menu.
At this time, a "Lockers" window will pop up, where we can know all the processes currently calling the file.
After selecting the process name, click the "Kill Process" button to pop up the "Kill-Confirmation" dialog box. Click the "Yes" button here to confirm the end of the process operation. After ending all corresponding processes, you can delete the specified file through normal channels.
Tip: In fact, this method is especially suitable for deleting * servers. This extremely threatening little thing can only be deleted after blocking all processes related to it.
Method 2: If the DLL dynamic link library file called by the specified program or file is still not released in memory, it will also prompt that the file is being used when deleted. In this case, we can delete the system's page file in the DOS environment. In Windows 9X system, it is the "" file (located in the Windows directory of the system disk), and in Windows 2000/XP system, it is the "" file (located in the root directory of the system disk).
Method 3: If the virus firewall is resident in the system and it is checking for the files you are about to delete when scanning for the virus, the system will also prompt that the file is being used. At this time, we only need to pause the real-time monitoring operation.
5. Cleverly delete other categories of strange files
1. User permission issues can't delete files
If the current Windows user login identity does not have permission to delete the specified file/folder (for Windows NT/2000/XP/2003 operating system), just log in as administrator again.
2. Illegal characters cause files or folders to be deleted
If the file or folder cannot be deleted due to illegal characters, you can enter the directory where the file you want to delete in the "Command Prompt" interface, enter "dir>", and use the DOS pipeline command to automatically enter the file list of the current directory into the batch command file "", then modify the batch command file, only retain the file or directory name, and add "del" or "rd" before the file or directory name, and then run the batch command to delete it.
3. Cannot delete any files in the system
Check whether the protection software with anti-deletion function is installed in the system, and if so, just delete it.
Okay, the above introduces several tricks to delete stubborn files in detail. I believe that after understanding these tricks, you can easily eliminate these strange files.