Support NeoGAF

[Mejilan]

Hi. So I downloaded a BIOS Flash .exe from Dell's website, and ran it to upgrade my BIOS firmware. This was a couple of reboots ago, and I've had no problems.

However, whenever I try to delete the .exe from my desktop, it gives me an error saying that something is still using the file, and that it can't be deleted. Any ideas?

 

[alejob]

Boot n safe mode and delete.

 

[Zaptruder]

reboot, or log out and in.

 

[shuri]

safe mode with console.

 

[hXc_thugg]

You can't delete your sins from God's desktop.

 

[Mejilan]

I've tried rebooting regularly. I'll try safe mode next. What do I have to hit to force safe mode? F4, as it boots up?

What would cause this to happen, though? I hit Ctrl Alt Del and checked my running tasks and applications, and it didn't show up. Not on my startup menu, not referenced at all in the bootup sequence according to msconfig...

It's just odd.

Edit - Win XP Pro SP2, btw.

 

[demi]

http://www.tolvanen.com/eraser/

 

[Aruarian Reflection]

I've had this happen countless times with movies. I think the reason in that case is because Windows keeps a miniscreenshot of every media file, and sometimes it gets "stuck" when you try to delete. I don't know otherwise.

If safe mode doesn't work, try downloading Ashampoo Winoptimizer's Suite. There's a function in there to delete anything.

 

[alejob]

I've tried rebooting regularly. I'll try safe mode next. What do I have to hit to force safe mode? F4, as it boots up?

What would cause this to happen, though? I hit Ctrl Alt Del and checked my running tasks and applications, and it didn't show up. Not on my startup menu, not referenced at all in the bootup sequence according to msconfig...

It's just odd.

Edit - Win XP Pro SP2, btw.

I think f8, I think f5 gives you the boot menu.

 

[Space Age Playboy]

Who cares? Just leave it there.

 

[alejob]

Who cares? Just leave it there.

Yeah, why do we wipe our ass anyway?

 

[Space Age Playboy]

It's an icon on a desktop, not feces.

 

[Mejilan]

Thanks, kludged my way into Safe Mode before I saw the response. Sadly, it didn't help.

Gonna download that Eraser app now.

 

[Mejilan]

And no. Keeping this turd of a program on my desktop is not an option. It has fulfilled it's function, and successfully flashed my A03 Dell bios firmware to A06. Now it must face deletion, of some sort.

 

[Mejilan]

Holy crap. Even Eraser fails.

WTF?

 

[cloudwalking]

Every time someone makes a thread like this, I suggest MoveOnBoot and it always works. Try that.

 

[alejob]

Boot with the XP CD in to recovery console(you'll need the admin password), delete the file from there. If that doesn't work then I don't know.

 

[Mejilan]

I hate trialware. I'll do it if the new version of Crap Cleaner doesn't help. Not sure why it would, but it can't hurt to try...

 

[Mejilan]

The insanely obsolete, freeware version of MoveOnBoot took care of the stubborn file. Many, many thanks.

 

[Miguel]

You + Firmware = BAD MOVE

 

[Mejilan]

Nah, this one turned out fine.

And some lucky fool in Canada (maybe) is gonna get a cheap launch PSP, and I'm gonna get a fine 1.5 PSP. Everyone wins.

 

[cloudwalking]

The insanely obsolete, freeware version of MoveOnBoot took care of the stubborn file. Many, many thanks.

No problem. It never fails, although I agree with you, it seems so crappy :lol

 

[Crow]

I dunno what you chaps are on about with reboots into safe mode and 3rd party programs...just:

- go to run type 'cmd' to open up the dos window.
- type 'cd desktop'
- type 'del [filename].exe'


easy!

 

[ParkPace]

I use a program called Unlocker to remove those locked/in-use-by-Windows files. Works great. Just right-click the file -> select 'Unlock' and there you go. Freeware too.

 

[Crystalkoen]

I dunno what you chaps are on about with reboots into safe mode and 3rd party programs...just:

- go to run type 'cmd' to open up the dos window.
- type 'cd desktop'
- type 'del [filename].exe'


easy!

Sounds great on paper, doesn't always work in execution. I've had similar problems in the past, and the command line wasn't helpful (I ended up using that as my excuse to reformat at the time). I'll have to remember the programs mentioned here for use in the future.