Unable to delete a file in Win 7

Hello,

I've seen it's a few other threads about how to delete un-deletable files but it doesn't seem to be the same problem as I have.

About a week ago I downloaded a patch for a game. I was never able to open this patch because it says I don't have permission. And now I've realized I can't delete it either. I find this a little annoying when I prefer to be in control over my files and not something else. So I thought maybe you pro's here could help me?

I have attached three screen shots of what happens when I try. First one is just normal delete in explorer, second one shows that there is no owner of the file. And the third is some tries in cmd.

Hope you guys have some suggestions.

Cheers
André

Welcome to SevenForums, please fill out your System Specs via UserCP...

Take ownership of the file then delete:

How to take ownership of a file or a folder in Windows XP

File problem

Take ownership of the file then delete:

How to take ownership of a file or a folder in Windows XP

Click to expand...

First of all I have win 7.
Second in the security tab it says Unable to set new owner for the file when I try, Access denied!

Try Unlocker

Regards

Hi guys,
this is my first post here and i want to say: "hello" to everybody outta there.

So I have similar problem:
I want to install steam. While updating there is an error: "deleted steam.exe but the file is still there". I tried to go to the folder where it is located and delete it on my own. Another error: "Access denied" (Logged on as admin). Tried to take owership but the problem is still there. Next try was to look which process is locking the file. LockHunter says that the system process is locking it and i also cant unlock it. And after bout 1min the file is deleted.
Same problem appears with visual studio 2010. Trying to debugg one app then stop debugging in the middle of the programm, try to recompile file but linker says: "cant open file for writting".

Hope you can help me
Blessed Love Pingu

PS: also tried to uninstall avira cuz steam.com says some anti virus programm cuz problems but also no help

This is interesting! Not even with two of the unlockers can I first open and select the file to the program. It says the same thing that access is denied.

Any suggestions?

Phacer,
I ran across this problem once. The problem is that I can't remember how I solved it.

Try this:
WIN key | type cmd.exe | rt-click on cmd.exe in the program list shown | select Run as administrator

Now that you are at the command prompt navigate to where the file is located.
First try DIR to see if file is listed.
If not try ATTRIB
You will probably find that the System, Hide, and Read-only attributes must be cleared.

After clearing the attributes, can you delete the file?
If not,
Then run PowerShell as administrator.

Procedure for running PowerShell as administrator is same as that for cmd.exe

Once in powershell, navigate to the file.
now try following command: DEL nameoftheproblemfile -FORCE

Nice, I never knew about Powershell, this is good to know! Thanks. =)

How ever the problem remains the same. Here is a screen shot of what happened in Powershell when I tried!

Hi phacer
Have you tried taking ownership of the file via your admin credentials and then deleting it?
Would be good if you log into your admin account and then taking ownership via the properties tab.

Hope this helps

phacer said:

Nice, I never knew about Powershell, this is good to know! Thanks. =)

How ever the problem remains the same. Here is a screen shot of what happened in Powershell when I tried!

Click to expand...

Ok. Now are you logging on as administrator?

Create yourself an administrator account if you need one.

Log on with that administrator account.

I'm looking for my notes on manually taking ownership, as opposed to to using a .reg file.

Take Ownership of file - Vista Forums

Taking Ownership of Files and Folders
As an administrator you can take ownership of a file or folder as follows:
1. In Windows Explorer, rt-click on "properties" for the file or folder.
2. Security tab | Advanced
3. Owner tab| click Edit
4. In the Change Owner To list, select the new owner. To take ownership of all subfolders and files within the folder, select Replace Owner On Subcontainers And Objects option.
5. OK | OK

Assigning Ownership
As administrator or the current owner, you can assign ownership to another user or group as follows:
1. In Windows Explorer, rt-click on "Properties" for the file or folder.
2. Security tab | Advanced
3. Owner tab | Edit
4. Click Other Users Or Groups
5. Type the name of a user or a group | click Check Names | Choose the name you want if its not already filled in | OK
6. From the Change Owner list, select the new owner. For a folder, select Replace Owner On Subcontainers and Objects to assign ownership of all subfolders and files within the folder.
7. Ok | OK


What you want to do is assign yourself as the news owner.

Hello Andre,

Have you already tried deleting the file using a command prompt at boot using your Windows 7 installation disk?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/55728-file-delete-command-prompt.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/682-command-prompt-startup.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Shawn,
I like the idea behind the links you gave because by deleting using a Win DVD prompt or a System Repair prompt from the ram drive, he will be getting to the file before any malware.

I'm looking forward to hearing his answer.
karl

Just a thought. Try killing explorer and then delete the file. Hope this helps.

Thanks guys!

Just now, my anti-virus program found this file after a week of having it as a suspicious file and deleted it without a problem at all. So problem solved I guess.

But I will write down what you wrote if this happens again. Thanks!

Hi,
just want to ask if someone could help with my problemd descriebed some post above.

Thank you.
Greetz Pingu

Hi Pingu

Try starting a new thread under system security.
someone will respond to your query under a new thread.

Take care and regards

Yeah ok just thought that its the same topic so post the problem here.

Greetz