I can't delete a JPEG file from My Documents folder. Whenever I try to delete it I get a message saying that the filename is invalid or too long. If I try to change the filename I get the same message (name is too long or invalid). I'm also unable to move the file for the same reason.

Anyone any ideas?

The 1st idea that occurs to me is:
[don't laugh]

You make a backup of everything on the C: drive, but deselect that file.
Then you re-format the C: drive and restore the backup.

I know, I know, it's using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, but you need a backup of the C: drive [without that file] anyway.

I wonder if "Eraser" [a great prog] would do it?
It overwrites the space occupied by folders/files [and unused space on drives, and "cluster tips also] to make them irretrievably gone.
Get it here http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/

Are you sure that was the right URL? My computer can't find the site :(

Look for eraser here (http://www.tolvanen.com/eraser/)

I got version 5.7 from that site on 1st February 2004.

I cannot find another site offering version 5.7 right now and I cannot get that site to open either.

But I have a cunning plan to overcome that difficulty in your case.

I got the site to open for 5.7 Eraser (http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/) just now.
Must have been a server issue.
:rolleyes:

Winston,
Have you tried to remove it in Safe Mode?

Other things I'd try: Use 'Cut' and Paste it into the Recycle Bin, then close the bin. Right click on the bin and click 'empty'. Or create a folder in My Docs and move the jpg into it then delete the new file.

Another thing to try is accessing it in DOS. DOS is supposed to rename it to a smaller name and may be deletable after that.

This way for some reason almost never fails. For some unknown reason, if I'm having trouble removing something, if I access it differently it becomes deletable:

Go to My Computer> C: (wherever your OS is)> Windows> My Documents. Delete from there.

There are malware programs that hide in files with JPG extensions. It would be a good idea to run a full set of security scans including an online virus scan, spyware scans (Spybot and AdAware) and then run HijackThis and post the log here for analysis... To run HJT, extract it to a permanent folder such as C:\Documents or one you create like C:\HJT. Close all programs you have opened and make sure that all programs are enabled if you use msconfig. Run it and Scan, then Save the log. When the log window appears, Right click to Copy it, open your browser and come here to Paste the log. Do not make any changes until it is checked since most items are either benign or essential to the computer.

There are malware programs that hide in files with JPG extensions.

Budfred,
Got any referrences to this? It's just new news to me and I would like to read up on it some.

FTT,

It is one of the things I have read about, but I am not sure where to look for details. They usually look like this: "file.exe.jpg" so that they are really an EXE, but the jpg extension is added to disguise that.... I think there may be another way that it is done as well, but I am not sure about that. Something about the file actually being a JPG, but having the EXE hidden inside it.... mjc would know much more about it I'm sure...

Just did some researching on it. It has to do with Windows only showing the first extension of a file. And the malware adds the jpeg extension to the front of the filetype so the user only sees the jpeg and not .jpeg.exe (You had it the other way around.)

They are actually .exe files and not jpg's or jpeg's but the appearance to the user is that it is a picture file and may be the case here as well.

Winston,
Go to My Documents> View> Folder Options> View. Select Display the full path in the Title Bar and ok your way out. Have a look at that jpeg by right clicking it not opening it. Look in properties or scan it with your A/V.

If it is an .exe, try CTRL/ALT/DEL and close the running app, then try to delete it again.

I managed to download Eraser and it did the job! I don't know why the file wouldn't delete normally but it started with con. and ended with .jpg

Does that mean anything significant?

Thanks for your suggestions and help, very much appreciated :)

Yes, there is malware that can hide in jpg, except it requires another app to extract it from the picture.

Using steganography (http://www.jjtc.com/Steganography/) techniques the malware is embedded in the jpg and then later extracted...not very easy or very common, as far as I know just something that uber-geeks are playing with in a lab setting, not anything in the wild, yet.