PLEASE help me delete this file!?

Question

Okay. I'm trying to delete this file that's not working and I don't want ANYONE seeing it on my laptop and I absolutely cannot delete or recycle it. ;-; I keep getting this message:

"The action can't be completed because the file is open in another program".

Please help me? Try hard to simplify the instructions as much as possible since my little brain can only store so much info.

Answer 1

First, let's pretend you're using a Windows machine because for some reason you didn't tell us.



1. Close all of your open programs. Try to delete the file. If that doesn't work...

2. Shut down your machine all the way and reboot. The moment the machine leaves you sitting at the desktop, try to delete the file before doing anything else. If that doesn't work...

3. Shut down your machine all the way and reboot. The moment the machine leaves you sitting at the desktop, right-click down on the Taskbar and click "Task Manager". When the Task Manager window opens, click on the "Processes" tab. There will be a few columns of information. Click on "Memory" to sort them to see which processes are using the most memory.

4. Here's the tricky part. Good chance one of these processes is holding onto your file. In reality you'll need to shut down these processes one by one, trying to delete the file each time. Tricky, because some of these processes are needed in order for your operating system to run. You can google the name of each process to see what it is before you shut it down.

5. If that doesn't work, do a full virus scan. Or maybe swap steps 4 and 5.

Answer 2

Exactly what is says on the tin. You have to tell the program to stop using the file, or stop the program.



If you can't find the program that's using the file, try closing all your applications. If that doesn't work, try restarting your system.



If *that* doesn't work... you may want to check your system against viruses, because it might be opened by some hidden process.



If you're using some Unix derivative such as MacOSX or Linux, you can find the offending process by opening a terminal and then using the command



lsof /path/to/thefileyouwanttodelete



If you're using Windows, I don't know any program that can find which process is using a file. I've head that Process Explorer from the Sysinternals Suite does the trick.

Answer 3

Go into Task Manager and close all Programs that are running. Then try to delete it again. If it still wont delete, it may be a type of malware or virus. Run your antivirus and also MalWarebytes. See if the AV or MWB finds it and deletes it.



If no virus or malware is found try restarting your computer in safe mode. Then try to delete the file again.

Answer 4

Which application reads and opens this file on your computer? What is the file type (i.e. the name of the .xxx extension for the file name)? Knowing this could potentially simplify the instructions. And as misaltas points out above, are you on a Mac or a PC?

Answer 5

restart your computer as the simpliest way. the file can be open somewhere else. do u have a magic disc or something which is like a virtual drive. if u do all u gotta do is unmount the files.

if not try deleting pieces of the files. one by one to see the exact file that is being used.

if all fails restart the cpu.

Answer 6

Your computing gadget shops a itemizing of all the records on your computing gadget, called the draw close record table (MFT) once you keep a record on your computing gadget, that is written to the not basic disk, yet an get precise of entry to is likewise created interior the MFT telling the computing gadget precisely *the position* on the disk the record is. that is like the index on the back of a e book. once you delete a record, it deletes the get precise of entry to interior the MFT, notwithstanding it would not easily overwrite the records on the disk. so a lengthy way as your computing gadget is worried, the record is lengthy gone, because it would want to't locate any record of it interior the MFT - notwithstanding the records continues to be there, someplace. next time you write a clean record on your computing gadget it receives written on perfect of the former record (the single which you've deleted) - because there is not any record interior the MFT telling the computing gadget a record is already there. in order to respond to your question: convinced, it frees up the disk area for you, yet no, the record continues to be on the computing gadget till that is definitely overwritten by using yet another record. inspite of the truth that you would possibly want to choose particular restore application to get the deleted record back.

Answer 7

Download Unlocker

Run the program

Find the file you want to kill (delete)

Kill it



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

Answer 8

download and install malwarebytes from malwarebytes.org. Install it and run fileassassin. Then scan for viruses.