Deleting the un-deletable

[Dan Mitchell]

I have an 8 meg WMA music file which refuses to be deleted. When I try, I get the old "access denied, file may be in use..." even though it's not in use. Couldn't even move or copy it elsewhere. Rebooting didn't help, so I went out to dosprompt (expected this to be missing from ME...) and was able to copy the file elsewhere (basically wanted to move it in the first place) but still can't delete. Try renaming it in dos to fool whatever is preventing the deletion ( a trick I've used in such situations in the past) but again I get access denied. How can I get rid of this thing?????

Also, I'm pretty rusty on my dos commands. Is there a good online list of them?

Thanks as always,

Dan

[AwARe]

Hello Dan,

Just delete it in dos........c:\>del filename

If you cant do it otherwise........use a dos boot disk and delete it in Pure DOS <- not within the resident DOS (Floopy A:\ Boot disk)

If you dont have one I hear you can get one here http://www.bootdisk.com/
Ive never downloaded or used any of those disks, but I've seen other people use that link so I guess its good........

I can't imagine any case you wouldn't be able to delete it with the boot disk

I dont know of an online list of DOS commands ........But the only ones you should need are ....

c:\>cd <dir name> <- Change Directory
c:\>cd.. <- Go up a directory
c:\>dir <- List Folder Contents
c:\>dir/p <- Same as dir but only shows 1 page at a time
c:\>del <filename> <- Delete File

Hope That Helps!

[This message has been edited by AwARe (edited 05-16-2001).]

[tjaymadison]

The WMA may be 'stuck' in the queue of Media Player or WinAmp or whatever you use.

Or maybe it's in some song list you load up to have ready after you boot.

Your copies may actually be shortcuts. Either way I'd delete them before you try to 'liberate' the WMA.

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"I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question."
-- Charles Babbage, mathematician, computer pioneer, analytical engine designer (1791-1871)
-- (Question: 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?')

[Dan Mitchell]

Thanks for the replies. I had tried deleting the file in dos using the suggeted commands and others, sitll got "access denied". After about 3 unrelated reboots, the file finally agreed to delete in WE. Who knows why, ME seems to have that worst of all possible software failings (IMHO) it "does things" without my suggestion, approval or even knowledge, apparently in the name of idiot proofing.

Dan

[sea69]

lol dan: "Where do you want to go today"

http://www.zing.com/picture/p27876689d64b9eb7e18076aad627abe9/fe83a0cd.jpg.orig.jpg

lmao

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)


[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 05-17-2001).]