Locked Folders in WinXP

[VetteRestorer]

I had to uninstall my virus program last night. When I tried to reinstall it I got an error message that it could not write to the folder in Programs.

I looked at the folder and it was not deleted by the uninstall program. I tried to delete the folders and sub folders and got an error, Access Denied.

Right clicked on the folder and selected properties. The folder showed that it was write protected. Clicked on the write protect box and clicked on Apply. Error message, Access Denied.

I then tried a cmd window and went to the folder and tried an rd /s/q. Access Denied error.

I checked MS Knowledge Base and tried everything that there was to offer there.

I checked some other program folders and found the same situation there.

I am using WinXP home edition, and I am the Admin. Anyone had a problem like this before?

[morriswindgate]

With an AV program you have to make sure that all the parts are truely uninstalled. I use Regcleaner from www.jv16.org to make sure that everything is gone.

[VetteRestorer]

I went through the registry and the program was completely uninstalled. The program directory was just not deleted because nothing can delete it.

[Tuf]

I would look to the software maker for a solution. The only time I have seen this happen is say when you are using a demo version and it's time has expired and the user tries to reinstall the demo version again.

Unfortunately these problems will likely bleed over to the full versions as more and more makers add these protections that aren't really very well written at this point.

[KHT]

Is this McAfee by any chance?

Over the past year I`ve had to deal with 3 PC`s that were totally screwed up by McAfee and had to go to the site and get manual uninstall instructions.

I`m not sure if this could be an issue or not but the access denial situation may have to do with access privileges in the reg as they might apply to the directory you`re trying to delete. Maybe someone else could answer that. Just a thought.