47. How Do I Delete An Undeletable File

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There are occasions when you attempt to delete a particular file from windows explorer and are faced with an error message informing you that the file is undeletable. No matter what you seems to try the problem still persists and Windows will not let you delete the offending file. Here is a way of getting round the problem.

1/ Click the Start Button.

2/ Click All Programs followed by Accessories.

3/ In the Accessories drop down menu click, Command Prompt.

4/ The Command Prompt window will now open.

5/ Close all other programs that are running with the exception of the Command Prompt.

6/ Now click Start and then Run.

7/ In the Run dialog box type: taskmgr.exe

8/ In the Task Manager window click on the Processes tab.

9/ From the processes list highlight Explorer.exe and then click the End Process button.

10/ Don't close the Task Manager window, leave it open. At this stage you should have the Command Prompt window and the Task Manager window open.

11/ Now return to the Command Prompt window and change the directory to the directory that contains the file(s) you wish to delete.

12/ At the Command Prompt type: del *** (where *** is the name of the file you want to delete).

13/Press Enter to delete the file.

14/ Now go back to the Task Manager window.

15/ Click File>New Task.

16/ In the New task dialog box type: explorer.exe

17/ The Explorer User Interface (GUI) should now start.

18/ Finally close the Task Manager Window and the Command Prompt Window.