Can't delete a file

[devintohara]

I have a certain .avi file that I can't delete. for some reason the computer just won't let me. i know for a fact that it's not a system file, and that it's not in use. why can't i delete it?

[not important]

Usually, when I find a file that won't delete I discover it is being used somewhere. Have you tried running a virus scan and or Spybot S&D?

[imbest123]

Close all of your applications running then try to delete it.

[GSXdan]

usually a restart will free it from whatever may be using it. sometimes even after you close a program that was using it it wont "release it", so a restart usually fixes that.

if that doesnt work, do a virus scan.

^dan

[glc]

Try deleting it in safe mode.

[devintohara]

I've tried restarting my computer, and still nothing. For some reason I just can't delete this file. I've tried everything you've guys said, and anything else I've thought of. It keeps saying
"Cannot delelte file, It is being used by another person or program. Close any programs that might be using the file and try again."

[nocturnx]

Ive had files like that. I got rid of it using norton systemworks 2003, you can quarantine the file and then delete it.

[Miz]

A method that works...sometimes. After a reboot, open a program that does NOT play avi files...Notepad, Word, anything other than a media player.

Go to File>Open, browse to the location of the avi file. Once found, right click and choose Delete.

The problem you're running into is most likely due to Windows' insistence on checking, or "indexing" the file, and every file in the folder with it, for whatever reason it thinks that's a good idea anytime the file is accessed. This indexing procedure can take an eternity. By accessing it through a program that can't open it, you bypass Windows Explorer and the indexing routine.

If that doesn't work, go into Control Panel>Administrative Tools>Services, find and double click on Indexing service and click on the Stop button. Then try to delete the file through Windows Explorer and see if it will go away without an argument.

[cypher1919]

another thing you can try is to put it in a folder and then move it to the c: directory
go to command or dos(depends on win version),
get to c: prompt,
type "dir/p" w/o quotes
make sure the folder is there.
then type
"deltree (folder name)" without parenthesis or quotes
hit enter
then do a dir/p
to see if the folder is gone.
if the folders gone,the files gone with it.

[LittleGhoti]

Sometimes MoveonBoot can help:
http://www.webattack.com/get/moveonboot.html

[devintohara]

I tried what Miz said and it worked right away. thank you very much to all of you for your help. I really appreciate it!!!

[glc]

No wonder I've never had this problem - I have indexing disabled!