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[martinuzz]

Sorry to post this here but I am confused:
I just downloaded some DF utilities (never tried them) and made a new directory for DF, and unzipped the tools there. The I unzipped DFutility and found out it had all the .exe files included.
So I started deleting the other files. Succesfully. Where it not that I'm now stuck with reveal.exe in my new dwarf directory.

If I try to delete it, I get the Windows message: "cannot delete file. It is currently being used by another process. Close all programs and try again" (translated from Dutch)

I've rebooted and there is no change. Still can't delete it. Tried in DOS. No effect. There are no active programs running, and a lot of background processes. Don't see any unusual but here I'm not the expert.
What is this? Could it be a Windows problem that I was rather speedily clicking and tapping ? (I might have led reveal.exe while another delete action was still in process)
I'm clueless. Any suggestions anybody?

[TotalPigeon]

Have you checked that it isn't a read-only file in properties? That might stop it from being deleted. Otherwise, try running it. That'll let us know if it is actually there, or if windows just thinks it is. If it doesn't work, windows might delete the entry itself. My two pence, anyway.

[martinuzz]

It's actually a ghost file. It is 0 kb. It's only the name that's left, the contents HAVE been deleted. And.. If Windows were do delete it itself, wouldn't it have done so at reboot? Other than that, I also tried a running the hard-disk cleaning action from the start>>acessories menu. That didn't clean it up either.

[TotalPigeon]

I'm afraid I don't know then. You try googling for an answer? And I guess if it's 0kb, it shouldn't be worth worrying too much about.

[ravensword227]

quote:Originally posted by TotalPigeon:
<STRONG>I guess if it's 0kb, it shouldn't be worth worrying too much about.</STRONG>

LOL!
:confused:

Try Ctrl + Alt + Del, Processes tab, find it, End process.  Delete the offending file.

Also, if that doesn't work, try shutting down your anti-virus software via End process.  It could be that your virus scanner is scanning that file when you try to delete it.

[ October 14, 2007: Message edited by: ravensword227 ]

[Sowelu]

If you're still worried about it, I'd recommend running scandisk--check your hard drive for errors.

[Sean Mirrsen]

You need Process Explorer. I don't remember where to get it, but once you have it, you can search for handles in all active processes and close any handles that involve your target file without completely crashing the process. I've stopped Explorer bugs with damaged AVI files (where it tries to make a preview shot, but cant, slows everything down, and refuses to let me delete the file) that way, as well as some weird files that I tried to delete but something was using them.

[McMoop]

http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/

a utility that can usually fix these sort of problems

[herrbdog]

undeleteable programs (spyware included (NETMEETING TOO!!!))

go to folder/file

rclick->properties
goto SECURITY tab
DISALLOW "SYSTEM" as a user, but do NOT disallow "administrator" (or whatever your local equivalent is)
reboot
now, since the program CANNOT run, you can delete it safely!

I got rid of netmeeting this way! (try to delete it normally, and keep hitting refresh on the folder and watch the files mysteriously come back!).

[Vengeful Donut]

quote:Originally posted by Sean Mirrsen:
<STRONG>You need Process Explorer. I don't remember where to get it</STRONG>

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/utilities/ProcessExplorer.mspx

[Garry]

quote:Originally posted by martinuzz:
<STRONG>Sorry to post this here but I am confused:
I just downloaded some DF utilities (never tried them) and made a new directory for DF, and unzipped the tools there. The I unzipped DFutility and found out it had all the .exe files included.
So I started deleting the other files. Succesfully. Where it not that I'm now stuck with reveal.exe in my new dwarf directory.

If I try to delete it, I get the Windows message: "cannot delete file. It is currently being used by another process. Close all programs and try again" (translated from Dutch)

I've rebooted and there is no change. Still can't delete it. Tried in DOS. No effect. There are no active programs running, and a lot of background processes. Don't see any unusual but here I'm not the expert.
What is this? Could it be a Windows problem that I was rather speedily clicking and tapping ? (I might have led reveal.exe while another delete action was still in process)
I'm clueless. Any suggestions anybody?</STRONG>

HA FAIL!

code:

  
FfF....A......i..l......!!
F.....A.A.....I..l......!!
fF...AAAAA....I..l......!1
f...A.....A...I..l........
F..A.......A..I..Lllll..!!

>[ October 17, 2007: Message edited by: Garry ]

[Garry]

Sorry...

[Turgid Bolk]

The spam-goblins have unleashed quite a troll.

[martinuzz]

Thanks for all the help people!
And Garry for the encouragement  :p !

Finally, I've managed to get rid of the ghost.
It took me three holy incantations of reboot and indeed, a turn undead spell on my virusscanner.