This tutorial shows you how to delete undeletable files and folders. There are times when explorer.exe somehow locks files into place and won't allow them to be deleted. In order to delete them you must close explorer.exe and use a command prompt to delete the file.
Tip
Be very careful when deleting files through command prompt, it's possible you could accidently delete the wrong file.
1. - Open an elevated command prompt
Start > Search "cmd" > Right Click cmd.exe > Run as Administrator
2. - Leave Command prompt open; Open task manager
3. - End process "explorer.exe"
4. - Switch back to command prompt
5A. - FILE - Change to the directory of your file and delete it.
First run this line: cd "PATH OF YOUR FILE"
i.e. cd "%USERPROFILE%"\Downloads"
Now run this line: del filename.extension
i.e. del filename.mkv
men..!! thanks for this wonderful tweaks it took me 7hours just finding for the right solution!
this works with me, now my undeletable file is gone forever..
i have registered myself here just to give you my thanks..
Excellent solution to a problem that had troubled me for a few days. It worked for me deleting files from an external USB drive, on Windows Server 2008R2. Much appreciated.
System Manufacturer/Model Number HP Compaq Pro 6300 MT OS Windows 7 Professional 64bit CPU Intel Core i3-212 Memory 8GB Monitor(s) Displays 2 x Philips 244E
Computer type PC/Desktop System Manufacturer/Model Number Compaq OS Windows XP Service Pack 3 32bit CPU Intel Celeron 2.53Hz Memory 1Gb Graphics Card N/A Sound Card N/A