Can't delete file on desktop - help 2

bucky · Joined: Oct 15, 2003 Posts: 159 Location: Scranton, Pa.

Hello everyone Very Happy

Once again I need a little help from you fine folks. Rolling Eyes

I e-mailed an excel file from my work computer to my home computer.
The file opened just fine in the e-mail.
Then I saved it to my desktop where it came up as an EMPTY, BLANK FILE.
I cannot delete it, rename it, or move it.

The properties window comes up as:

NBC Phone Dir
Type of file: File
Opens with: (blank)
Location: C:\Documents and Settings\Al\Desktop
Size: 0
Size on Disk: 0

The error message I get is:

Cannot delete, (rename or move) file: Cannot read from the source file or disk.

Can anyone tell me how I can delete this from my desktop? Idea

Thank you, Bucky

pc7wizard

bucky wrote:

Hello everyone Very Happy

Once again I need a little help from you fine folks. Rolling Eyes

I e-mailed an excel file from my work computer to my home computer.
The file opened just fine in the e-mail.
Then I saved it to my desktop where it came up as an EMPTY, BLANK FILE.
I cannot delete it, rename it, or move it.

The properties window comes up as:

NBC Phone Dir
Type of file: File
Opens with: (blank)
Location: C:\Documents and Settings\Al\Desktop
Size: 0
Size on Disk: 0

The error message I get is:

Cannot delete, (rename or move) file: Cannot read from the source file or disk.

Can anyone tell me how I can delete this from my desktop? Idea

Thank you, Bucky

Question: What email client are you using??? What version of Windoze are you using??? What version of Excel???

It looks like the email client started to save it and croaked, leaving a file handle locked on your desktop.

So, to figure this out correctly, we'll need more information, sorry...

Write soon, ok? I'm interested in this problem... Cool

Cheers!

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 1244

The easiest way is to boot in a DOS or Linux OS & delete it.

Assuming that your system is NTFS, you will need that support for the DOS. Linux already has it in most live distros - which you will be using.

bucky · Joined: Oct 15, 2003 Posts: 159 Location: Scranton, Pa.

Hi...
OK... here it is ...
WindowsXP Pro SP2 v2002
Microsoft Excel 2002 (10.2614.2625)
Outlook Express 6 (6.00.2900.2180)
NTFS file system

Sorry... I have no idea how to work in DOS.
I have seen it and probably could do it with some help. Rolling Eyes

Thanks, Bucky

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2747

Grab MoveOnBoot, http://www.321download.com/LastFreeware/page7.html
It was free, now they bundle it with some other utilities that you don't need and charge for it. The above link will still download the last free version.

Install it. You won't see anything happen. Right-click on the file or folder you want to remove and you will now see Gipo in the menu. Click on it and one of the choices is to delete the file or folder on the next boot up or reboot before windows is loaded. Select that and the file or folder should be gone by the time windows loads.

bucky · Joined: Oct 15, 2003 Posts: 159 Location: Scranton, Pa.

Thank you zlim for the response.
Unfortunately it didn't work.
I have never come across something like this before and it has me completly stumped. Confused

Bucky

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 1244

If you can find someone close that knows the DOS commands (or look them up yourself) you MAY be able to delete it at the command prompt. But I doubt it. Sounds like the system has it "locked" & the ONLY way to get rid of it is to boot into another OS & access it that way.

Pretty much anything that will let you boot it that will access the HD's should work. Any "Emergency boot disks" should work.

Sorry, I don't give you the commands (step by step) but I don't know your systems setup to do so.

But basicly you will need:
CD - change directory
del - delete the file
dir - list whats in the directory

bucky · Joined: Oct 15, 2003 Posts: 159 Location: Scranton, Pa.

Thanks Baby Tux,

No, I don't know anyone who would know how to do it.
I can get to the command prompt but that is about it.
I never really worked with DOS, but years ago I had a friend who was really good with computers and knew how to do it.
Sadly tho, he passed away about 2 years ago and I have been on my own since then. Laughing

I'm not afraid to try things on my own, but like I said, I have never run across anything like this and it's really getting to me that I can't get rid of the darn thing. Evil or Very Mad

Thanks, Bucky

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2747

I asked one of my friends about another program that might kill that file and he uses this http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/
if that doesn't work, there are some more out there.

Have you tried booting into safe mode, F8 at startup, and removing it using MoveOnBoot in safe mode?

bucky · Joined: Oct 15, 2003 Posts: 159 Location: Scranton, Pa.

Thank you zlim!
Unlocker did the trick.
It didn't find what was locking it but it gives the option of just deleteing it,
which it did. Very Happy

I did try useing MoveOnBoot in safe mode, it didn't work.
Anyways... once again, you folks came through again...luv this site. Very Happy

Thank you very much, Bucky

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2747

Phew, glad to know we didn't hve to have you install any more software.
At least if this happens again, you have two tools to try and rip something off your computer!

bucky · Joined: Oct 15, 2003 Posts: 159 Location: Scranton, Pa.

I'm glad too... thanks again Very Happy

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 2274 Location: Central FL, USA

Bucky,
If it's at all likely that you may want to delete things from your HD in the future, it sure wouldn't hurt to learn at least the most basic commands in DOS.

Then you can boot up your NTFS system with something like the
NTFS4DOS boot disk, go in and remove any file you like.
You'll then be in control of your system, not vise versa.

I tried several of the Linux boot disks and found them clunky and hard to use.

Having just 'NTFS4DOS' on any boot disk is all I need to access any NTFS drive and every file on it.
From the DOS prompt, I can rename files, move files, change file attributes or even delete files.
It's a piece of cake! Laughing

Of course, I keep all my own drives in FAT-32, so access to my HD's from a DOS boot disk is never a problem. Wink

An ounce of preparation is worth a pound of cure. Wink

Cheers Mate!
The Doctor

bucky · Joined: Oct 15, 2003 Posts: 159 Location: Scranton, Pa.

Hi Doctor,

Thanks for the info. Smile

Now, can you tell me where to go to find out about making this boot disk and some of these commands? Rolling Eyes

I think it could possibly be helpful in the future.
Thanks again, Bucky Smile

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 2274 Location: Central FL, USA

I can't teach you DOS here in this forum, but......

If you just Google "NTFS4DOS" you'll find a gaggle of sites on the subject.

Start with this one:
http://www.bootdisk.com/ntfs.htm

On second thought......just download the floppy disk builder Here.

The program will install on your HD and then offer to build the NTFS4DOS floppy disk for you. Follow the prompts to build your boot floppy.

Good Luck,
The Doctor Cool

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 1244

Try googling "DOS help", I found a list of sites that may help - Also I have a program from back in the DOS days (by the same name) that gave you help on the commands & what they were for, along with the syntax. Unfortunately the computer that it is on is "out - of - order" at the moment. But you MAY still find it on the net.

Also look around & you MAY still find books on it from the good old DOS days.
There is a ton of this stuff to be had at computer shows & flee markets. BTW

I recommend that EVERYONE that is serious about computers (& fixing them) learn DOS (very good starting point to learn to fix) You won't regret it. Besides it will give you some insight as to what the "techies" are talking about as far as the inner working of the file structure & such.

When I started to learn computers, I has to take an assessment test on the DOS commands & pass to be able to take the course. Well, given it was back in the DOS days, no problem for me to ACE it as I was using it every day.

One thing that I DON'T think I'd recommend about DOS - especially to the faint of heart - is trying to set up a network under DOS. You HAVE to do all the settings YOURSELF, where as in windows it does this FOR YOU. But if you are up to it, you will know your "stuff" (DOS anyway) when you are done.

Have fun & enjoy - learning can be fun! Very Happy

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 1244

Found this: it may have that DOS program I mentioned.

DOS help files - site

rovingcowboy · Joined: Jan 26, 2003 Posts: 1552

i've just had luck with rebooting it then unlocked the file and i was able to delete it. also was able to drag it over the recycle bin and let it ask if i wanted to delete it then it went away.
no extra stuff needed when doing it those ways.

but if they don't work then you need the extra stuff.
Cool

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 2274 Location: Central FL, USA

If a person is going to be a DIY computer "tech" and not rely on someone else every time something goes haywire, there are certain number of things they will need.

First, you need a program to backup you computer, so that when you foul up something, (the inevitable) you can restore to a time before the problem occurred.

Next you need to be able to take charge of every file and folder on your PC. Witness, the reason that prompted this Thread.

That's easy if you have your C: drive in FAT-32 mode (DOS Format), but NTFS is much harder to deal with and you must have some way to boot up your PC and access the NTFS HD and gain access to your files.
An NTFS4DOS boot disk is just one way to do this.

But, that boots you up to a DOS prompt.... and unless you know at least some basic DOS commands, you're dead in the water, so to speak.

I had to learn DOS as a PC novice 28 years ago. DOS was all we had, back then.
I got good enough at it to teach it in the Community Education Dept here, for two years.

Next, even if your computer did not come with a Floppy Disk Drive built in, you can fake it with a USB Floppy Drive. ($19.95 from many sources)
Most every PC I've tried it on, will accept a boot disk in a USB Drive as if it were in a built in drive.
An external USB Floppy Drive is a very valuable service tool and a must-have for anyone wanting to fuss around with their own PC.
Many utilities come only in Floppy Disk form.

There's a lot of very helpful Utilities out there that download as a Floppy Disk builder. Examples:
NTFS4DOS
Memtest86+

Norton's Ghost will only make a DVD bootable if run from A:.
That's the way it was written back in the days when every computer had an A: drive. The GUI of Ghost 2003 would build the boot floppy for you.

Cheers mates!
The Doctor Cool

bucky · Joined: Oct 15, 2003 Posts: 159 Location: Scranton, Pa.

Thank you all!! Very Happy

I'm going to take your advice and start checking out DOS. Wink

I don't know how far I'll get, but I'm sure I'll learn things that I didn't know before Rolling Eyes

Of course... if I get in trouble... I'll just come back here and bug you guys some more...LMAO! Rolling Eyes

Thanks again guys... you're all great! Very Happy

Bucky