Solved Unable to delete file from desktop

[Mr Patrick]

So I have this file that doesn't have anything, not extention or file size at all. I tried to delete the icon from my desktop and Windows says
"Could not find this item"
"This is not longer located in C:/.... Verify the item's location and try again."

I then saw on another post, about running the command prompt to remove the file but was unable to do so. Not sure if I had done or mistyped something wrong in the command prompt.

 

[Brink]

Hello Patrick,

It may just be a ghost file. Right click on the desktop and click on Refresh to see if the ghost file may go away. If not, then see if restarting the computer will.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Mr Patrick]

I just did the refresh, and the file was like this last night so it's already got the restart. So I'm still not sure what to do.

 

[Brink]

You could try the free program Unlocker to see if it may be able to delete and remove it.

 

[boohbah]

to be sure you input the correct txt in the command ,then copy and paste the txt from the post that had the command entry txt ( not sure what the correct term is for this)
edit : command prompt,
also if unlocker fails to do it ,then try malwarebytes and run file assasin either drag the file into the mbam file assasin window or browse to it from mbam
file assasin can be found in the more tools tab in mbam
http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/fileassassin

 

[Mr Patrick]

Could you help me with that program? I loaded it, than ran it on my desktop, there were two files there that were locked and I unlocked them. The file is still there, and unable to delete. I tried doing it again, it asking me what I wanted to do "delete, rename, move" I was going to proceed with delete, but I wasn't sure if it would have cleared everything that was located on my desktop.

I was going to try and copy/paste the code into command prompt, just I found out that I am not able to paste there.

 

[boohbah]

thats odd ,i can copy and paste into command. were you using hotkey copy and paste , i highlight the txtand copy from post and right click in the command and it opens a little context menu with paste.
also try the file assasin link i posted it works well and is easy. do you have malewarebytes installed.

 

[Mr Patrick]

Yea, I found that odd as well. Maybe I was doing something wrong. All I did was highlight..copy..then on CMD I right click to try and paste. I tried to get that program you linked me to but it didn't work. I currently do not have malwarebytes installed, I was still unsure of how well the program is. I had it on my last OS and wasn't sure how dependable it was.

 

[boohbah]

malwarebytes is recommended just about every other post here on sevenforums, the trick is not to have it running as a antivirus in real time alongside another av, just to use as a scan each week or whatever you schedule is. i would install it anyway as it is a good software and then try run file assassin from malwarebytes it will move it ,im sure.
|MG| Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.51.1.1800 Download

 

[Mr Patrick]

Okay, so I now got both Malwarebytes and File Assassin. Could you help me with how to work file assassin? I ran as admin, then did as it said with dragging the file into the location area but it wouldn't let me drop it into the box. Also, I don't know what bubble to fill or to go when pass this mark. I don't want to seem like I don't know anything, I just don't want to risk losing anything, considering I just loading Win7 on this hard drive.

 

[boohbah]

ok when you open malwarebytes along the tabs at the top there is one marked "more tools" open it and you will see file assassin, click run tool .
in the window that opens navigate to the desktop and select the file you want to remove.
you can select desktop from the navigation pane to the left of the window that opens when you click run tool

edit: any joy?

 

[Mr Patrick]

No joy, still says
"File not found. Check the file name and try again"
It's the right file name, so I don't know what could be the cause.

 

[boohbah]

im afraid im out of ideas. hopefully someone else will come along with a suggestion.
good luck

 

[Mr Patrick]

Thanks for the effort, I think I might be able to use File Assassin/Unlocker (basically same program) and just do the delete option that I saw. Just hope it doesn't delete my other files on desktop.

 

[karlsnooks]

Patrick,

Using MalwareBytes, run a FULL SCAN on all of your drives.

Some malware can cause the behavior you are seeing.

Let us know the results.

 

[Mr Patrick]

Hey Karl, I ran the full scan, as you said. There's only one trace of malware, and some virus being shown. I know I need to get rid of virus, but I have no protector at the moment. I'm sure though, that the issue isn't the virus, but it is the Malware.Trace that was detected.

 

[karlsnooks]

Remove the viruses! Remove the malware!

If you presently do not have an av software installed, then I use and recommend only Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) link in my sig.

 

[Mr Patrick]

That's what I am using, but it won't allow me to remove the virus. It'll show up on start up, I'll run scan. It'll say it's taken care of, but next time I reload computer it does it again.

 

[karlsnooks]

Patrick,
You have one of the more evil viruses.

What I'm going to ask you to do is to put the Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper on to a USB stick.

You will then boot from stick. This program, from Microsoft, runs from the stick and from ram and never starts up your windows, consequently, it can remove many bad guys that would normally detect attempts to remove them.

Here is a write-up on it. Notice there is also a tutorial. My procedure is slightly different from the tutorial, but as long as you follow the procedure, as written, then the procedure will never fail.

PUT SYSTEM SWEEPER ON A USB STICK
System Sweeper, https://connect.microsoft.com/systemsweeper, allows you to start an infected PC and perform an offline scan to identify and remove viruses, rootkits and other advanced malware. System Sweeper is a free standalone, bootable malware and virus remover from Microsoft.
NOTE: A fine tutorial on the System Sweeper is:
How to use the Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper


Download System Sweeper (about 576 kB):
https://connect.microsoft.com/systemsweeper

Insert 256 MB or larger USB stick into a usb port.

Run the downloaded program--mssstool64.exe or mssstool32.exe

Choose the option to install to USB.
Caution: The install program will format the usb stick.

The install program will download about 200 mB more.

After the install is finished, leave the stick in the usb slot.

Run the program you downloaded once again.

This 2nd run, and any subsequent runs, will download the very latest anti-virus definitions (about 60 mB).

To keep System Sweeper up-to-date, simply reinsert the usb stick and run the installation program, mssstool64.exe or mssstool32.exe, again.

The initial, full scan by System Sweeper can easily take several hours, but subsequent quick scans will be shorter.

Remember, your computer is being very thoroughly checked for all types of malware.

The results of System Sweeper will be in:
\Windows\Standalone System Sweeper\Support as one or more files with a LOG extension which can be viewed with Notepad.

Please attach the log(s) to your next post.

 

[Mr Patrick]

Ok, correct me if I'm wrong. Just want to clear things up before I try it.

Get a flash drive, download SSS onto it. Run the program from the flash drive. (full scan) Then once that is over with, once again run a full scan.

Also, will this damage anything on my hard drive? (the program)

Edit: The download should be of 64 bit as well, correct?