Can't delete file, even in safe mode.

[patrickgokey]

I was downloading what I thought was a zip file, and didn't notice that the name was actually "download-Cdm32s_571.zip.exe".

After I tried to open the file it said that it was not a valid Win32 application, so I tried to delete it. When I do that, it says I cannot delete the file because it is in use by another application.

I restarted in safe mode hoping I would be able to delete it in that mode, but no luck, I got the same error message.

I don't know what this file is, if it's bad for my computer etc. as it says it is 0 bytes so I would really like it gone. I ran antivirus scans and nothing popped up there.

Can anybody shed some light on how I can get rid of this file?

Thank you.

[misterbadnback]

What was the reason you downloaded it? Did you look in the add/remove programs in the control panel to see if it is there to remove it?

[patrickgokey]

It was supposed to be a program to convert sound files, obviously I wasn't paying attention and got something else. Yes I looked in the Add/Remove Programs and msconfig and could find nothing different than usual.

[AnnMarie]

Hit the Windows key plus r and type:

cmd.exe

and ok. Copy and paste the below string after the prompt > and hit Enter.

dir /s /a "c:\*Cdm32s*.*" > c:\find.txt & start notepad c:\find.txt

Your drive will be scanned and when finished, Notepad will pop up with some information. Copy and paste it in this thread.

[patrickgokey]

Thanks for the reply, here's the data from the scan:


Volume in drive C is OS
Volume Serial Number is 28D3-F6CC

Directory of c:\Users\Patrick\Desktop

09/26/2007 09:10 PM 0 download-Cdm32s_571.zip.exe
1 File(s) 0 bytes

Total Files Listed:
1 File(s) 0 bytes
0 Dir(s) 149,451,526,144 bytes free

[AnnMarie]

Download The Avenger from here http://swandog46.geekstogo.com/avenger.zip to your Desktop and unzip it.

Copy all the text contained in the code box below by highlighting it and right clicking and selecting "Copy"

Files to delete:
c:\Users\Patrick\Desktop\download-Cdm32s_571.zip.exe

Now, start The Avenger program by clicking on its icon on your desktop. Look under "Script file to execute" and click on "Input Script Manually". Next click on the Magnifying Glass icon and a blank dialogue box will open called "View/Edit script". Position your mouse inside the box, rightclick and choose Paste. All the text above in the code box should now appear there. Click Done and click on the Green Light to begin execution of the script. Answer "Yes" twice when prompted.

The Avenger will restart your computer. When you have rebooted, a black command window briefly opens on your desktop, this is normal. A logfile will be created that records all actions that The Avenger performed. This log file is saved to C:\avenger.txt. The deleted files will be backed up and saved to C:\avenger\backup.zip.

Once your computer has rebooted, please post back the contents of C:\avenger.txt and tell me if the file has gone.

[AnnMarie]

Sorry Patrick, scrap that. The Avenger does not work with Vista. I had overlooked what forum I was posting in.

[patrickgokey]

del

[AnnMarie]

Try this instead.

Open a command prompt again as you did before and type the below commands and hit enter after each line:

cd desktop

del download-Cdm32s_571.zip.exe

Close the command prompt. Did this work?

[patrickgokey]

No luck - "The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process"

[AnnMarie]

Ok, there is another option we can try. Open a Command Prompt window again and leave it open. Close all open programs.

Rightclick on your Task Bar and open Task Manager. Go to the Processes tab and End Process Explorer.exe. Make sure you leave Task Manager open.

Go back to the Command Prompt window and run the commands I posted in my previous post. Close the Command Prompt and go back to Task Manager and click File > New Task and enter EXPLORER.EXE to restart the GUI shell. Close Task Manager.

Did this work?

[patrickgokey]

It worked! Thanks so much for all your help.

[AnnMarie]

That's good news and you are very welcome Patrick. :)