Shift+Delete problems and reappearing files after deletion

[Saraya]

Hello,

I have had a good clean copy of Windows 7 installed for some time now and right from the start I noticed a problem that until recently, I managed to tolerate.

Whenever I shift+delete a file that is an executable, batch file or similar, it returns temporarily then dissapears on it's own within minutes of being deleted.

So for example, I find a .exe then hit shift+delete and it's gone. I then refresh the window and Explorer shows it back in place. I try to run the file or modify/edit it, to test if it's just a phantom and I cannot interact with the file.

It's as if the system deletes it, but Explorer doesn't quite catch-on for a few minutes. A few minutes passes, and the file is no longer viewable in Explorer.

Alternatively, If I send it to Recycle bin or do a normal delete, it has no problems regardless of the file type.


If I use a program like TuneUp shredder, or similar "eraser" programs, it says it cannot access the file(if it's .exe .bat etcetc), but will delete other file types fine.

This feels like some type of user privilege / Explorer issue, but being that there's only one user(myself -default administrator), and UAC is off, I don't understand.

I had a previous Win 7 install with this same Win 7 retail build and never experienced this.
The only difference between now and then is that this time around I have a SSD(which from the setup and testing I have done, is working 100% as should).

!

Roxy

 

[FliGi7]

Did you install any secure deletion or maintenance programs on the PC?

 

[Saraya]

Tuneup and Ccleaner are the only things that would relate?
No secure deletion like BCWipe though.

 

[FliGi7]

What Antivirus products are you using? I just wonder if Tuneup or an AV product are interfering with the files before they are deleted.

 

[Saraya]

I have no AV installed.
It's possible Tuneup is somehow interfering, but this same version of Tuneup was used on the previous installation without fail.

I'm going to try adding a new Administrator account and seeing what happens.

 

[fimble]

I have no AV installed.

Although not your issue, you should remedy this ASAP! A good free option is Microsoft Security Essentials with the addition of the free version of Malwarebytes' for a weekly manual scan.

 

[FliGi7]

If you have no AV installed, you should address that problem first, as stated above. Download the two above programs, run them, and report back to us the results.

 

[Tatletz]

@Saraya = > Mate, you might have malware already enjoying a cocktail party on your machine! Don't be silly and secure your computer first, then bother with deletion problems

 

[Britton30]

Hi Roxy
I'll chime it too...Get some Security on that machine!
As for Tuneup Shredder not deleting exe, etc files, that must be a Tuneup problem. I use Tune up and it will shred anything I've thrown at it so far, sometimes asking if I am sure.
As for the deletion probelm, what is the difference with shift/delete and throwing it in the recycle bin and letting Ccleaner take care of it? It has the options of Secure Delete.

 

[Saraya]

Britton,

Shift + delete removes the item from Explorer, until you refresh the window. Then after a few minutes it goes away on it's own.

If you just delete, and send to recycle bin, it goes there right away and can be removed via CCleaner or clearing the recycle bin manually.

And as previously mentioned, it only happens with any program type, executable, batch etc.

I still have to make another admin account and test it.

 

[Britton30]

OK Roxy, let someone know if you need anything.

 

[Saraya]

Ok all, looks like Tuneup was the cause.
Apologies for not playing process of elimination more thoroughly, it's just that in all past experiences with Tuneup going back several years, I had never experienced this problem.

Thanks for the genorosity, and I will pass along this experience to some others I know have had a similar problem(I even found an old sevenforums posting after the fact...).

Roxy

 

[Britton30]

Vewwy stwange Roxy. I've used various iterations of Tune Up sonce 2005 with no ill effects. If you try it again, you might check in the setting about how many backups are stored and I always turn off auto maintenance.

 

[Saraya]

Well I spoke too soon.

After removing Tuneup, I was able to shift+delete files and it worked as it should.
Then after a reboot, it's back to playing tricks on me again.

I did some more modifying tests like trying to extract and overwrite an .exe file and I get access denied messages from Winzip, Winrar etc.


So now I'm really lost.

 

[FliGi7]

Have you addressed your antivirus problem discussed earlier? We can't help you until you fix that first.

 

[Britton30]

Sorry to hear that Roxy, please download Malwarebytes Free AV, and Superanti Spyware Free, update them, fun FULL consecutive scans, shutdown, remove all power for 5-10 minutes, (as in remove power cable/battery) restart and try it again. this will take some time to do, perhaps 1 1/2-2 hours.

You can also try from an elevated command prompt run sfc /scannow to try to repair corrupted files.

 

[Saraya]

I'm a bit surprised at the swooping in from several 'veteran' members to inform me that an anti virus program is a necessity to running Windows, and furthermore insinuating that help cannot be given otherwise.


Nothing is wrong with having a light AV installed for manual use once a month, but scheduled scanning and automatic monitoring of 'suspicious' files is a nuisance best avoided.

Let's just be clear 99% of AV programs are bloatware. A good hosts file, browser filters for active x/flash/java etc(Spyware blaster comes to mind) and a bit of common sense to avoid shady internet sites, are about the only software sided protection you need. Coupled with the fact that all modern modems are DDOS and NAT protected the odds of a trojan are slim, and the odds of malware that happens to only have one symptom (the one I've described in this thread) is even more rare.

Seems more often these days, so called 'troubleshooting' forums are nothing but a haven for people to run up post count by dropping in with their suggestions which sound more like automated Hewlett Packard live chat responses, then an actual thought out reply to the content at hand.

Thanks though to those that managed to finish reading the first post.


Anyways, having left Tuneup uninstalled, done a few reboots and changed some disk caching settings, it seems to be gone now.


I did end up seeing others with this problem, hopefully someone who uses Tuneup 2011 will find it sooner than later.

 

[Britton30]

I'm a bit surprised at the swooping in from several 'veteran' members to inform me that an anti virus program is a necessity to running Windows, and furthermore insinuating that help cannot be given otherwise.

I did not mean that at all. But from the many users with problems we help, far too many ARE the result of having a light AV or none at all. People are constantly working very hard to find a way into YOUR (and my) computer and daily scans while a PC is inactive is a needed "evil".
Business and home networks are more vulnerable and compromised more than ever. Malware can do a plethora of shenanigans on any PC, especially one totally unprotected.

 

[FliGi7]

I'm a bit surprised at the swooping in from several 'veteran' members to inform me that an anti virus program is a necessity to running Windows, and furthermore insinuating that help cannot be given otherwise.

How are we supposed to troubleshoot a problem when you've admitted to running no AV software and propose a problem that shouldn't be happening on your system if it's healthy? We're ruling out root causes of the problem. If you have a virus on your system, any help we give would be moot as it will never be fixed until that is removed.

Troubleshooting is a two-way street. You can't come on here and expect people to solve a problem you're not willing to help narrow down unless it fits what you think should be done. Clearly you don't know how to fix the problem, which is why you're here and is why some people are trying to help you figure it out. You don't seem to grasp this, nor understand the importance of an AV or how unnecessary third party programs can mess with your system (this would be Tuneup).

 

[havens1515]

Sorry to post in an old thread, but I am having this same issue. I have Microsoft security essentials installed for AV. I have run Malwarebytes scans, there is no malware. I also am VERY safe when browsing, and am the only person who uses this computer, so I'm 99.9% sure it's not malware related.

After it disappears and reappears after trying to shift-delete it, if I try to just delete it, I get a message:

"You need permission to perform this action

You require permission from the computer's administrator to make changes to this file"

I am logged on as an administrator, and have no problems deleting any other file. And it usually resolves itself after a reboot.