Need help deleting a file that does not exist

[Jayinem]

Everyone of these apps that are supposed to delete these hard to delete files say it doesn't exist, yet it remains. I tried Safe Mode and shredding with AVG, running a scan with AVG, running sfc /scannow, DISM RestoreHealth, yet it remains. And actually two places it won't delete because I copied it over from an external hdd and it's stuck there too. Malware like a mofo, but I need to get rid of it. It's just an empty folder I was able to delete the files inside of it.

 

[Xdqwerty]

You can try this but idk if it will work:

 

[fringle]

View attachment 473602

Everyone of these apps that are supposed to delete these hard to delete files say it doesn't exist, yet it remains. I tried Safe Mode and shredding with AVG, running a scan with AVG, running sfc /scannow, DISM RestoreHealth, yet it remains. And actually two places it won't delete because I copied it over from an external hdd and it's stuck there too. Malware like a mofo, but I need to get rid of it. It's just an empty folder I was able to delete the files inside of it.

What error do you get when you attempt to delete the folder? Could it be a hidden file within it? Try taking ownership of the folder by right clicking, properties, going to the security tab, click on advanced, and change the owner to you. See if that will allow you to delete it.

 

[Latiodile]

you should run a drive health checker program like crystaldiskinfo, ghost files like that tend to be a sign of disk failure, maybe try deleting it with a Linux liveCD

 

[RAHelllord]

I'd suggest trying what fringle suggested, however if you aren't comfortable with using the windows tools, or they throw an error, give File Unlocker a shot which will automate all the permission stuff and set it correctly for you.
Similarly I would suggest you perform a clean reboot and and then close all other programs you got open in the background that you don't need, just to be sure nothing else is interfering. None of the stuff I can see on your screenshot should really interfere, except maybe Kaspersky if that thing believes there's something bad inside the archive and is trying to block access for security reasons.

If all that fails boot a Live linux iso and nuke it from there.

 

[Jayinem]

I was doing system restore to an earlier point, all it did was cause other issues and didn't let me remove it.

I tried IOBITUnlocker and it said the file wasn't locked. When I try to delete it is gives an error that the file is no longer in that location. I'll try crystaldiskinfo later.

Also when I go to security on the folder it says the requested security info is either unavailable or can't be displayed.

 

[Reiten]

You might try using the terminal(command prompt) to delete it, might not work, but is worth a try before more extreme options. I remember having a file I couldn't delete normally(coincidentally also in the Downloads folder), but the terminal worked.

 

[Jayinem]

You might try using the terminal(command prompt) to delete it, might not work, but is worth a try before more extreme options. I remember having a file I couldn't delete normally(coincidentally also in the Downloads folder), but the terminal worked.

Either I'm doing it wrong or windows thinks the file doesn't exist I did del <filename>.

 

[KleinesSinchen]

Please run chkdsk and start a Windows PE or a live Linux afterwards to see if the folder (?strange symbol?) shows up there as well.

 

[Jayinem]

Please run chkdsk and start a Windows PE or a live Linux afterwards to see if the folder (?strange symbol?) shows up there as well.

Already ran chkdsk, nothing changed.

 

[Reiten]

Either I'm doing it wrong or windows thinks the file doesn't exist I did del <filename>.

The command line sometimes works, when the file is already gone but some entries about the file get left in the system for some odd reason. Looks like this case isn't one that something so simple can fix.

 

[Jayinem]

you should run a drive health checker program like crystaldiskinfo, ghost files like that tend to be a sign of disk failure, maybe try deleting it with a Linux liveCD

I don't know how to use crystaldiskinfo can you explain it. There's buttons like All CPU DIsk 2D 3D I click on them then they change to stop, but it doesn't seem like anything is happening.

This thing is malware that AVG should be able to handle, these antivirus programs are pretty much useless they only delete files you don't want them to.

 

[Latiodile]

I don't know how to use crystaldiskinfo can you explain it. There's buttons like All CPU DIsk 2D 3D I click on them then they change to stop, but it doesn't seem like anything is happening.

This thing is malware that AVG should be able to handle, these antivirus programs are pretty much useless they only delete files you don't want them to.

you might have run crystaldiskmark by accident, crystaldiskinfo looks like this
diskmark is a benchmarking tool to test disk read/write speeds, diskInfo is to check the SMART and health status of a drive

 

[Jayinem]

This worked from superuser.com posted, I think it was similar to what xdqwerty suggested so shout out to you





After failing all normal, Command Prompt, and PowerShell options, I got the problem solved by a small trick.

1. Get some program which reads and makes compressed files. I used 7-Zip, WinRar will probably work too.
2. Right click the bad file and click Add to Archives. Then in the options select to delete original file after compression.
3. Leave other options same and proceed. Bad file will be deleted and a compressed file will be created in its place.
4. The problematic naming structure changes with addition of extension (.zip .rar .7zp etc) and can be deleted.

But thanks to everyone for your suggestions. It was a nasty one.

 

[C_2_T]

perhaps a stupid question, but did you try "refresh" in case it's stuck in cache? you could try deleting it in terminal with rm -r folder_name . if you get ls installed through maybe devkitpro, you could check if it detects the folder by typing ls in terminal. there's a way to delete files through cmd prompt using the cmd prompt name, but I don't know if that will make a difference. rm can delete files that are 0KBs, which may not delete otherwise, but since it's a folder, you have to add -r to the command.

 

[impeeza]

View attachment 473602

Everyone of these apps that are supposed to delete these hard to delete files say it doesn't exist, yet it remains. I tried Safe Mode and shredding with AVG, running a scan with AVG, running sfc /scannow, DISM RestoreHealth, yet it remains. And actually two places it won't delete because I copied it over from an external hdd and it's stuck there too. Malware like a mofo, but I need to get rid of it. It's just an empty folder I was able to delete the files inside of it.

Sounds more like a ACL (Permissions problem) can you show us the «Security» - Advanced tab of the folder properties.

Or even is a <SYMLINKD> I never use explorer so the icon is not familiar.

if you can open a command line (cmd NOT powershell) and execute the command dir /a on the folder containing the object you can get more information, by example:

 

[Jayinem]

Sounds more like a ACL (Permissions problem) can you show us the «Security» - Advanced tab of the folder properties.

View attachment 473609

Or even is a <SYMLINKD> I never use explorer so the icon is not familiar.

if you can open a command line (cmd NOT powershell) and execute the command dir /a on the folder containing the object you can get more information, by example:

View attachment 473612

It's already solved, and the malware blocked security it said it couldn't be accessed in that tab.

Post automatically merged: Nov 30, 2024

Got the game off a reputable site as well, that "download" site.