Can't delete file

[persius]

I backed up all of my data to an external drive. Always do.

 

[TechnoMage]

I started working with PC's (IBM Compatible Personal Computers) back in DOS days (~1980)
In those days, you learned how to deal with DOS even if you didn't learn how to program with it.
When I learned how to write batch files, I was able to make life easier for a lot of PC operators.
What I learned, 41 years ago, still serves me today.
When someone says "I have a file I can't delete", what they are really saying is, "Windows refuses to delete this file".
Windows comes with a set of rules that YOU cannot break. But DOS can!
The key is to get out of Windows and into DOS where you can navigate to a file and delete it.

Here's how I do it:
I boot up the PC with my DOS Utilities Flash Drive, and run a little program called, "NTFS4DOS".
That opens up all the NTFS files to access from a DOS prompt.
Then it's an easy matter to just navigate down to the folder with the file you want to delete, and type in " del filename.ext and press ENTER
and the file is GONE!

It takes just a few minutes, but it so simple, anyone could do it.

Once 'NTFS4DOS' has been run, you can go into the HD and do anything you want, with any file in Windows. Delete files and folders, or rename any file or folder.
Or Create New Folders, change file attributes, etc.

Or, just bring it here, and I'll do it for you. That might be a good excuse to take a trip to Florida.

TM

 

[starvinmarvin]

Why couldn't the OP just renamed the file with a shorter name?

 

[TechnoMage]

Because.....Windows already proved that it can't deal with that file, whatever the reason.
There actually are several things that can happen to a file, that Windows can't deal with.
It's just something that we have to deal with. As a computer tech, I've dealt with many of them.

TM