A friend of mine downloaded some files that appear to be jpg files and tried unsuccessfully to delete them. He's not getting any error message, the files just will not delete.

He ran his antivirus and spyware scans, nothing came up (btw, he's using SP2). How can he get these items deleted? Do you need more information?

Thanks! :D

He could try unlocking them with unlocker, then try deleting them.

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

Thanks, CaPMan. He tried that unlocker and it didn't work.

****!

Has he tried deleting them in safe mode?

Failing that, it might be worth you posting a HJT log on his behalf for Tarun to have a look at.

Will do. Can you believe I'm helping someone (very slightly) with something computer related? :D

Hey guys- I'm the id*** Trish is trying to help.

I've tried safe mode, virus scans from Norton and AVG, as well as ad-ware and Spybot.

Nothing. They won't delete from my desktop- it's not even an option.

The unlock thing didn't work either.

I'd wipe my HD right now and start over if I knew for sure that it would eliminate any virus threat that is there. Needless to say I'm wide open to suggestions.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Perhaps try this:

http://www.softwarepatch.com/software/moveonboot.html

Hey guys- I'm the id*** Trish is trying to help.

I've tried safe mode, virus scans from Norton and AVG, as well as ad-ware and Spybot.

Nothing.  They won't delete from my desktop- it's not even an option.

The unlock thing didn't work either.

I'd wipe my HD right now and start over if I knew for sure that it would eliminate any virus threat that is there.  Needless to say I'm wide open to suggestions.

Thanks in advance for any help.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Glad to see you here, Rhino. :D

Perhaps try this:

http://www.softwarepatch.com/software/moveonboot.html

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I tried using that program, but when I select the "jpg" file it says the name of the file is invalid. It's like they don't exist, but I see them right there! :D

In your Task Manager, are their any Internet Explorer (iexplore.exe) processes running?

In your Task Manager, are their any Internet Explorer (iexplore.exe) processes running?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No. There is an explorer.exe though

If you like you can post a HijackThis log in the HijackThis Log forum.

Go get a bootable CD and delete it from there. For a really easy solution, use either WinBuilder or Reatogo XPE and use the source files from your Windows XP CD.

I wouldn't recommend using a Linux boot CD, since their NTFS support is still somewhat sketchy.

Thanks- I'll give it a try tomorrow.

HijackThis! also has a "delete file on reboot" function, you could give it a try. HijackThis > Config > misc tools.

Like I said any program I use to try and delete these files does not acknowledge their exsistence. Even under their properties it says they take up no space. If rebooting from the CD doesn't work I'll post the HT log file. Thanks guys

Problem solved!

I needed to delete it from the file-sharing program I was using- even though I had that program shut down. Wierd.

Needless to say- don't download every pic that claims to be nudes of Michelle Rodriguez- that's all I'm gonna say.

Thanks for the help, everyone. I appreciate you taking time to help a dumb schlep like me.

Seems very strange that Unlocker didn't manage to unlock and delete the file.

Seems very strange that Unlocker didn't manage to unlock and delete the file.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It wasn't even an option when I right-clicked. Neither was "delete". Since I could only delete through my file-sharing program I guess it was still somehow attached. I dunno.