I have a file with no extension. It came in an email and I saved it to scan for viruses before I realized it did not even have an extension. Can't delete it from safe mode. "Can not delete. Can not read from source file or disk". How do I get rid of it? Thanks.

Try this ! http://www.snapfiles.com/get/moveonboot.html

Jane

Thanks Jane, but isn't there a simpler way; without installing a program?

Joyce, You can try the method at the link below. If that doesn't work MoveOnBoot should get rid of that file.

http://www.theeldergeek.com/delete_undeletable_file.htm

Tufenuf

Thanks Tufenuf, that did not work, "the specified file could not be found". It doesn't seem to exist but yet it shows up. I can't believe this is such a problem with XP.

It would be a problem with other versions of Windows too.

Behind every good computer... is a jumble of wires 'n stuff.

Ttech, I would think XP would have come up with a fix by now.I'll just leave it.

Joyce,

Where is the file and are there other files and subfolders keeping it company? In other words, is it in a folder that can be purged or do we need to be selective?

Thanks for the reply Steve. BTW, I tried Move On Boot and it did not work (file does not exist); also tried a system restore and that did not remove it. It is a single file, unfortunately in My Documents.

Attachment #1, (jpg file)

Go to the Start | Run line and type "cmd" without quotes and press Enter. At the command prompt, type
cd "My Documents"
(include the quotes, there is a space after "cd" and a space after "My".
You should have the command interpeter moved to your My documents folder. Run the "dir" command (type dir and press Enter) and see if the file appears. If so, you can probably run the "del" command on the specific file to dump it.

Steve,Thanks but the file is not listed. Very strange.

Use white-out
---------------------------------

seriously,shut down computer for 2 minutes.Then fire it back up.

LilJoe

Hey, I never thought of that!
I did reboot a few times, but will try the shutdown for two minutes.

The little @#%!*&^ is still there!
I'm starting to like it

Maybe reboot into Safe Mode and log on as Administrator. Then see if you can find it in your profile and delete it.

Bob, Thanks, not sure how to do that. I did try Safe Mode, but I don't Log On. In fact, I've never understood that whole Log On thing. I use TweakUI. Does that keep me from having to Log On? Well that is another story and I am going to bed. Maybe the little critter will disappear overnite (I shutdown my computer at night).

I'll say a prayer to the windows gods tonite and things will be better tomorrow.

LilJoe

Hi Joyce,

Is it possible to create a new folder, say, called crap (or similar), move your file to that folder and then delete the folder? When warned that all files within the folder will be deleted...agree.

Just a thought.

Andy.

Putting water in an empty gin bottle, doesn't make it gin.

Try both Dir /ah
and
Dir /as

which will list Hidden and System files.

The culprit most likely has one of those attributes.

I don't know how to do what you are telling me to do.

What Steve recommended, except instead of entering

DIR

enter

DIR /AH
(see if the file appears)

or

DIR /AS

Thanks WhitPhil, the file shows with Dir /AH and Dir /AS, now how exactly do I type the Del command?
Have you heard the expression "this is like pulling teeth"

If it is Del (space) exact name of file, enter, I get a response "Cound not find.......etc."

Attachment #1, (jpg file)

If you were to type out the full filename, you would need to enclose it in quotes.

DEL "Fw_ Fw_ gasoline ..."

But use wildcards instead.

DEL FW* or DEL FW*.*

Just be sure where you are & what is where you are.

Using wildcards will match anything in that directory that began with FW. If nothing else is in the directory, then there shouldn't be any problem.

And in that case, using, DEL * or DEL *.* may allow you to delete what may otherwise appear to be a filename that begins with FW.


The ATTRIB command (used with no paramaters) is an easy method to list all files in a directory, regardless of the files permissions (hidden, system, ...).

Thanks therube, I never did use the quotes with DEL command and full file name as you can see in my posts 36 & 39 screenshots. Maybe it would have worked if I had (enclosed in quotes).

This may help ...

http://www.sawtoothdistortion.com/Articles/DeleteUndeletableFiles.html

Thanks muckshifter, I pretty much tried all that with Tufenuf's post #3.

Joyce,
in another folder click file menu/new/text In the text box enter the exact name of the undeleted file. you will then have file with 0 bites.
Copy this to the folder with 'bad' file and it should ask if you want to overwrite - yes. should then replace old file and you can delete the new.

Ellergreen, I don't have that option, File, New, Text. But I did try to open the undeleteable file with notepad and it said it could not be opened and offered to create another file which I did. But the undeleteable file has no extension and the new file has txt extension, so no overwrite. Thanks anyway.

This may seem to be a very dumb suggestion but have you tried to rename the file and giving it an extension? e.g., FW.txt. Then try and delete it directly or by one of the above mentioned methods.

Jeff
simul iustus et peccator

Can't move it, can't rename it, can't delete it.
It does not exist in the directory (Steve's instructions), yet it shows.
I guess Lil Joe's white out is the only solution.

Long shot. Upload the "file" to the Kaspersky Online Virus Scanner and scan it. Then try deleting it. Followed by a reboot.

Quicksilver, the file will not upload. When I browsed to where the file was, submit, the box came back empty saying to upload the file name and try again. Thanks anyway.

Tried running chkdsk on it?

Sounds like a phantom file. Maybe Norton Disk Doctor will discover it and remove it.

I was in a similar situation with a whole directory of Norton Unerase files (Norton Unerase disabled) - could not delete it even from a boot CD (which is your other option - boot to a CD that can access your drive - likely NTFS - and see if you can delete it from there).

How do I run chkdsk?

Joyce,
Don't understand why U haven't got the option. Are U sure that you have looked at the top of any Folder toolbar? It should show File, edit, view etc. That's the File I meant U to click on and follow the drop down menu to "text document" and make a new file wih the name of your problem one.(Ive just made one without extension.)
Ed

Ellergreen, I used to have that but don't anymore. Besides, how do you create a text document without the txt extension?

Attachment #1, (jpg file)

Ed, I thought I had it, but:
I clicked on the undeleteable file and tried to open in Notepad. It said it could not be opened and asked if I wanted to create a new file. I created a new file -same name-saved with no extension to a different folder. Then when I tried to move the new file to where the undeleteable file was, I got the messsage saying would I like to replace it. Yes! But when I went back to the original location, there were now two files with the exact same name and the original one will not delete.This file does not really exist, yet it shows.

Attachment #1, (jpg file)
Attachment #2, (jpg file)

Oops this mail must have crossed in the post -Sorry, Joyce,
under my menu after "Folder, shortcuts, etc" I have a number of options including txt document. Where it came from I really couldn't say.
However try this, in Notepad create the exact file title in 'txt' form. Copy it to a folder other than the one with your **&$ file. Highlight ".txt" delete, just leaving the title and try posting that file to where it may overwrite your baddie.
Good luck.

I just noticed something. The undeleteable file has a . after it but no extension. I can not create another file with a . (period) The newly created file leaves the dot off. ????

Joyce, I'm sure you can create the file as a 'xxxxx.txt' and then, after highlighting just the 'txt' portion (Leaving the 'dot' press enter - it should then ask if you want to change the extention, click yes, then delete '.' and you should have your duplicate.
Another thought - Click Tools/Folder options/file types - search for extension ".a" and see what it opens with.Perhaps you can change opening command.

Can't do it Ed, the dot will not remain. Try it. It does not work for me.I even tried adding 6 dots to the file name and all the dots were left off.
I don't follow you on the extension in file types. There is no .a extension listed. ??

The file name is:
Fw_ Fw_ gasoline prices are going up.
with a dot on the end as shown and no extension.

When I highlight the file, the details say attributes-Hidden and System. Is there a special trick to deleting?

Attachment #1, (jpg file)

> When I highlight the file, the details say attributes-Hidden and System. Is there a special trick to deleting?


Now we're getting somewhere! See if you can remove both of these attributes, then apply the change, then delete the file.

Behind every good computer... is a jumble of wires 'n stuff.

I wish we were getting someplace but how can I remove the attributes. The details show it as hidden/system, but.....



nothing is checked in attributes. If I choose NOT to show hidden files in Folder Options, the file disappears! But I prefer to show all files.

Attachment #1, (jpg file)

Try removing the attributes first.

ATTRIB FW*.* -H

if that "seems" to work (ie no messages) then

ATTRIB FW*.* -S

Then DEL FW*.*

(before doing this last command, ensure that you have NO other files starting with FW)
DIR FW*.* will list them all

It won't reset the attributes. Let's face it, we are all stumped by this little bugger.

Attachment #1, (jpg file)

Try

ATTRIB FW*.* -H -S

Then DEL FW*.*

Still won't change the attributes, but thanks for trying to help. Thanks to everyone, but I don't think anything will get rid of this file except a reformat.

Attachment #1, (jpg file)

Maybe it will leave when the price of gas starts dropping

LilJoe

At this point, I wouldn't be surprised.
It's got a life of it's own

Joyce,

As a rule, scripts ignore file attributes when deleting unless you set them up otherwise. Here is something that might do the trick. Since it appears you've cleared most files out of the folder, you shouldn't need to worry if any other files contain the term "gasoline" as part of their name.

Create a new text file and copy what I've got between the dotted lines into that new text file:

---------------------------

Set objShell = CreateObject("Shell.Application")
Set objFolder = objShell.Namespace(&H5&)
strMyDocs = objFolder.Self.Path
Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set myDocsFldr = objFSO.GetFolder(strMyDocs)
For Each F In myDocsFldr.Files
If InStr(objFSO.GetFileName(F), "gasoline") > 0 Then
objFSO.DeleteFile F
End If
Next
Set objFSO = Nothing
Set objShell = Nothing

------------------------------

Save the file, close it and rename it "CleanMyDocs.vbs"

Double click the new vbs file and see if that doesn't get rid of the pesky file.

Steve, Thanks but that didn't get rid of it either. What is causing this? Isn't it quite unusual?

It's definitely stubborn. I suppose it could be a namespace item but that would have required something written to the registry and I doubt your AV would have allowed that.

Since you don't have much left in the folder, try this experiment. Make a new vbs file with what I have between the dotted lines below. Name it anything after you create the text file, just be sure the extension is vbs. This one will send up a message box for each file, folder, or other item in MyDocuments and you will have to click "OK" for each. Just do a screen save on the one for the bad file (assuming it generates one)

------------------------------

Set objShell = CreateObject("Shell.Application")
Set objFolder = objShell.Namespace(&H5&)
heading0 = objFolder.GetDetailsOf("",0) & vbTab & vbTab
heading1 = objFolder.GetDetailsOf("",1) & vbTab & vbTab
heading2 = objFolder.GetDetailsOf("",2) & vbTab & vbTab
heading3 = objFolder.GetDetailsOf("",3) & vbTab & vbTab
heading4 = objFolder.GetDetailsOf("",4) & vbTab & vbTab
heading5 = objFolder.GetDetailsOf("",5) & vbTab & vbTab
heading6 = objFolder.GetDetailsOf("",6) & vbTab & vbTab
heading7 = objFolder.GetDetailsOf("",7) & vbTab & vbTab
heading8 = objFolder.GetDetailsOf("",8) & vbTab & vbTab
heading9 = objFolder.GetDetailsOf("",9) & vbTab & vbTab
heading10 = objFolder.GetDetailsOf("",10) & vbTab & vbTab
For Each fldrItem In objFolder.Items
str = heading0 & objFolder.GetDetailsOf(fldrItem,0) & vbCrLf & _
heading1 & objFolder.GetDetailsOf(fldrItem,1) & vbCrLf & _
heading2 & objFolder.GetDetailsOf(fldrItem,2) & vbCrLf & _
heading3 & objFolder.GetDetailsOf(fldrItem,3) & vbCrLf & _
heading4 & objFolder.GetDetailsOf(fldrItem,4) & vbCrLf & _
heading5 & objFolder.GetDetailsOf(fldrItem,5) & vbCrLf & _
heading6 & objFolder.GetDetailsOf(fldrItem,6) & vbCrLf & _
heading7 & objFolder.GetDetailsOf(fldrItem,7) & vbCrLf & _
heading8 & objFolder.GetDetailsOf(fldrItem,8) & vbCrLf & _
heading9 & objFolder.GetDetailsOf(fldrItem,9) & vbCrLf & _
heading10 & objFolder.GetDetailsOf(fldrItem,10)

MsgBox str
Next
Set objShell = Nothing



---------------------------------------------

Thanks Steve, but it did not show that stubborn file.

Try this one.

http://www.deletefxpfiles.com/index2.html

Scroll down to near the bottom of the page for dl link.

Bob G, I can't believe it! It's gone!
I almost fell out of my chair. Thanks very much.
And thanks to everyone else for all the help and input. It is much appreciated.

Ain't life grand

Bob, This forum and it's members are grand too. Look at all the replies I got; all the people who took the time to help.
Thanks again.

Phew, Joyce,
I was having sleepless nights trying to help rid you of that Bl**ding File. Now, can you erase itd from my mind???.
Ed

p.s. As they say across the Pond "I'm quids in" .'cos the Forum helped me restore MS Messenger (Well, my daughter really, she thinks/knows that it's the most well informed Forum in the entire Universe.)

I appreciate all the help you gave me. That little file annoyed me. I don't like it when my computer won't do what I tell it to!
We can both sleep now.

joyce, This is just a WAG but did you ever delete that e-mail that contained that file from both your in-box and the deleted items folder? I know it sounds crazy but it's worth checking since nothing else seems to be working to get rid of it.

Tufenuf

Yes, Tufenuf, I had deleted the email and then deleted from the Delete folder.
Thanks, Bob's program worked.

I could come over with my trusty scout hatchet and remove that file if you'd like.

Jim.

PS - I'll bring my Stihl chainsaw for backup just in case it is really, really stubborn.

Hip-Hip Hooray

LilJoe

"The undeleteable file has a . after it but no extension"

The file may in fact have an extension, just not visible.

And in the same way the filename may not have started with FW.
Could have just appeared that way.

PS: didn't realise that you had solved this prior to my earlier post (#62 above).