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Vista - Can't Delete a Movie (AVI file) on desktop

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10-13-2007   #1
Double Z


 

Can't Delete a Movie (AVI file) on desktop

It's this one movie I've had on the desktop for months now. Every time I
try to move or delete it, it will bring up the move/delete dialog, but it
gets stuck on calculating the time remaining. I've tried programs like Move
on Boot, but the file refuses to move. Any ideas? I would think it's
corrupted somehow. I've ran checkdisk. I tried deleting through command
prompt but it freezes too. 'Window Washer' can't 'shred' it.


My System SpecsSystem Spec
10-13-2007   #2
Kristan M. Kenney [MVP]


 

RE: Can't Delete a Movie (AVI file) on desktop

It sounds like something is locking the file, perhaps some sort of codec that
Windows is using to display the thumbnail for the file.

Try booting into safe mode (press F8 on your keyboard during start up and
select "Safe Mode") and remove it there. Alternatively, you can try this:

1. Hold down CTRL-SHIFT and tap ESC on your keyboard to display the Windows
Task Manager.
2. In the Processes tab, locate all instances of Explorer.exe and click on
"End Process". When the warning dialog appears, click on "End process".
3. In the Windows Task Manager window, click on "New Task (Run...)" and type
"cmd.exe", and then press OK.
4. In the command prompt window, type CD "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop"
5. Delete the AVI file from within the command prompt window by using "DEL
/F <name of file>.avi".
6. Close the Command Prompt window.
7. From the Task Manager window click on "New Task (Run...)" and type
"EXPLORER.EXE", and press Enter.

Let me know if this resolves the issue for you, have a great day,
--
Regards,
Kristan M. Kenney
Microsoft MVP [Windows - Shell/User]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.


"Double Z" wrote:
Quote:

> It's this one movie I've had on the desktop for months now. Every time I
> try to move or delete it, it will bring up the move/delete dialog, but it
> gets stuck on calculating the time remaining. I've tried programs like Move
> on Boot, but the file refuses to move. Any ideas? I would think it's
> corrupted somehow. I've ran checkdisk. I tried deleting through command
> prompt but it freezes too. 'Window Washer' can't 'shred' it.
>
>
My System SpecsSystem Spec
10-13-2007   #3
Rick Rogers


 

Re: Can't Delete a Movie (AVI file) on desktop

Hi,

Click start and type CMD, then hit <enter>. From the prompt, run:

CD %userprofile%\desktop
Del /y <file_name>

Where <file_name> is the name of the file you are removing.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"Double Z" <zzinkmetairie@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:QoCdneM9ItMs84zanZ2dnUVZ_oytnZ2d@xxxxxx
Quote:

> It's this one movie I've had on the desktop for months now. Every time I
> try to move or delete it, it will bring up the move/delete dialog, but it
> gets stuck on calculating the time remaining. I've tried programs like
> Move on Boot, but the file refuses to move. Any ideas? I would think
> it's corrupted somehow. I've ran checkdisk. I tried deleting through
> command prompt but it freezes too. 'Window Washer' can't 'shred' it.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
10-13-2007   #4
Double Z


 

Re: Can't Delete a Movie (AVI file) on desktop FIXED

Thanks for replying so quick. I booted into Safe mode with cmd prompt and
it worked. And thanks for the CTRL Alt ESC shortcut for task manager, I
didn't know that. (:

My System SpecsSystem Spec
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RB


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