How do I delete a file that won't delete?

Question

I have spent nearly 2 HOURS trying to sort this out. Yes, I have better things to do with my time, but this is really annoying me now. I have gone through various google results, youtube tutorials, cnet downloads, but none have worked. (One application on cnet turned out to be a virus, so I had to 'system restore'.) Cnet now terrifies me, so please don't suggest anything from there.

When I try to delete the file, a torrent (not porn lol), it says:
"This is no longer located in C:\Users\hannah\Desktop. Verify the item's location and try again."
When the icon is CLEARLY on my desktop. I can't move or rename it either.

I will be very seriously grateful if you help me.

Answer 1

1) Try hitting F5 to refresh the screen.

2) If it is still there then try to reboot



These are checks to see if it is really gone and your display has just not updated.



3) Reboot into safe mode

This is done by hitting F8 while your computer is booting and choosing "Safe mode" from the boot menu. This will load almost no drivers and software, so nothing will be locking the file.



4) Browse to where the file is in a command window

4a) Click "Start" then "Run"

4b) Type: CMD [Enter]

4c1) If its on the desktop, type: CD Desktop [Enter]

4c2) If its in MyDocuments, type: CD "My Documents" [Enter]

4c3a) If its in a program-files folder then type: CD "\Program Files" [Enter]

4c3b) You then need to type "CD " followed by the program files folder its in.



5) Once your in the correct foler, remove file attributes

5a) Type: attrib -r -a -s -h filename.exe

(Replace filename.exe with the files name... put the filename in quotes if it contains a space)



6) Delete the file from the command window

6a) Type: del filename.exe

(Same rule applies as in 5a, replace the blah... and space thing...)



7) Reboot your system and notice the file is sure to be gone.



Almost nothing can survive a safe-boot dos-level erase, especially with file attributes cleared... unless its in use by a virus or rootkit system.

Answer 2

You do have yourself an awful problem...I suggest making sure you always have anti virus and anti spyware active at all times.



This file is being ran in your processes. Also known as your task manager. Unless your familiar with all your common processes it will be hard to decipher which process you need to end. Once you find it and end process, you should be able to delete this file.



This is complicated but you have a sort button, anything thats not system but is set under your username of hannah are processes you should google.



Example...YAHOOM~1.EXE = of course when u search this you will realize its part of yahoo. but you should see all the processes you are currently running under your name...and hopefully you can spot all the ones that are a part of your common programs on your computer.



As you find ones your not familiar with hopefully google can pinpoint which ones might be harmful and if you end the right one you can delete it.



just dont end explorer.exe and you will be fine



Might I suggest AVG anti virus and

Spybot Search & Destroy and also Lavasoft's Ad-Aware (these 2 are anti spyware and all 3 are free and are easy to use and help get rid of such problems in both processes and your registry)

Answer 3

Try something simple

open a command prompt



type cd C:\Users\hannah\Desktop

type del *, where is the beginning portion of the icon title.



Often times going to the system base is more interesting.



Perhaps this will teach you a lesson about stealing software or movies (using torrents)

Answer 4

Restart your computer and check if it is actually there



If it is still there and you still cannot delete it, download Unlocker which is a program that can delete ANY file.



http://www.filehippo.com/download_unlocker/



If it still does not delete do a virus scan



Also as I can see how much you love CNET you can download it there http://download.cnet.com/Unlocker/3000-2248_4-10493998.html :)

Answer 5

Update your anti virus definitions. Schedule a boot time scan to make sure that there are no running unwanted apps while scanning for viruses.

Answer 6

check it's properties!

Or copy paste it somewhere else...Also have you tried refreshing it?

it nothing works, restart your computer n safe mode (press F8 while it's starting) and then try deleting it..

Hope it works!