Jump to content

Random file cannot be deleted.

Fortress
By Fortress
in Troubleshooting
 Share
Go to solution Solved by Altecice,

I did reinstall Windows 7 because it was starting to get a bit slow. I used disk cleanup but it completely avoided that file. There's nothing left in the Windows.old folder, other than that file. I attached a screenshot to show it to you,

 

Hmm ok well another simple way to get rid of it would be to boot into a live linux CD and your hard drives will be mounted, from that nativate to the Windows.old folder and delete it from that. You wont get prompted for NTFS permission errors etc... its guaranteed to work.

Posted

Hello there. There's a random file on my HDD named "Cities". It doesn't show its extension but according to Windows Explorer, it's a File. The size is 0 KB and when I try to delete it, it says this, "Could not find this item. This is no longer located in C:\Windows.old.001\Users\Noel\Desktop\. Verify the item's location and try again." Help would be appreciated.

Has a Ph.D in Nothing and does not speak Chinese, Italian or French. (aber ich kann Deutsch sprechen)

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/375642-random-file-cannot-be-deleted/
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

http://www.howtogeek.com/128680/how-to-delete-move-or-rename-locked-files-in-windows/

This may be of some use.

"It pays to keep an open mind, but not so open your brain falls out." - Carl Sagan.

"I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you" - Edward I. Koch

"I didn't die! I performed a tactical reset!" - Apollolol

Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

cities skylines ? :) 

My Personal PC 'Apex' https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/user/LiamBetts123/saved/3rTNnQ

Intel Core i9 9900k, ASUS Z390-A, RTX 2080TI, Meshify C, HX 850i, 32GB Gskill Trident Z RGB @ 3200MHZ, 500GB NVME, 500GB SSD & 2 x 4TB Baracudas 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

I'm not sure. I did buy Cities: Skylines on Steam but I can't remember if I have actually installed it.

might be a random file from that or somthing 

My Personal PC 'Apex' https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/user/LiamBetts123/saved/3rTNnQ

Intel Core i9 9900k, ASUS Z390-A, RTX 2080TI, Meshify C, HX 850i, 32GB Gskill Trident Z RGB @ 3200MHZ, 500GB NVME, 500GB SSD & 2 x 4TB Baracudas 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

I downloaded it. It says "0 matching items." 

Has a Ph.D in Nothing and does not speak Chinese, Italian or French. (aber ich kann Deutsch sprechen)

Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

I downloaded it. It says "0 matching items." 

How about FileASSASSIN? https://www.malwarebytes.org/fileassassin/

"It pays to keep an open mind, but not so open your brain falls out." - Carl Sagan.

"I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you" - Edward I. Koch

"I didn't die! I performed a tactical reset!" - Apollolol

Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

the WindowOld directory gave it away. Have you recently reinstalled windows or done some sort of upgrade (7>8 or 8>8.1) ?

This is usually what the computer does with all your old install/windows information. To get rid of it run a DiskCleanup as Administrator, after its finished scanning C: for junk files select the second tab and select ' clean up system files ' it will rescan, but this time there will be a Windows installation media present at the bottom of the list. Check it and delete it and you will be good to go.

Quack 🦆

Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

I downloaded it too. Even FileAssassin failed.

 

EDIT: Attached a screenshot.

post-82117-0-54981000-1432853174_thumb.p

Has a Ph.D in Nothing and does not speak Chinese, Italian or French. (aber ich kann Deutsch sprechen)

Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

the WindowOld directory gave it away. Have you recently reinstalled windows or done some sort of upgrade (7>8 or 8>8.1) ?

This is usually what the computer does with all your old install/windows information. To get rid of it run a DiskCleanup as Administrator, after its finished scanning C: for junk files select the second tab and select ' clean up system files ' it will rescan, but this time there will be a Windows installation media present at the bottom of the list. Check it and delete it and you will be good to go.

OP ^ This...

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-au/windows7/how-do-i-remove-the-windows-old-folder

Maximums - Asus Z97-K /w i5 4690 Bclk @106.9Mhz * x39 = 4.17Ghz, 8GB of 2600Mhz DDR3,.. Gigabyte GTX970 G1-Gaming @ 1550Mhz

 

Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

the WindowOld directory gave it away. Have you recently reinstalled windows or done some sort of upgrade (7>8 or 8>8.1) ?

This is usually what the computer does with all your old install/windows information. To get rid of it run a DiskCleanup as Administrator, after its finished scanning C: for junk files select the second tab and select ' clean up system files ' it will rescan, but this time there will be a Windows installation media present at the bottom of the list. Check it and delete it and you will be good to go.

 

I did reinstall Windows 7 because it was starting to get a bit slow. I used disk cleanup but it completely avoided that file. There's nothing left in the Windows.old folder, other than that file. I attached a screenshot to show it to you,

post-82117-0-06233600-1432853374_thumb.p

Has a Ph.D in Nothing and does not speak Chinese, Italian or French. (aber ich kann Deutsch sprechen)

Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Solution

I did reinstall Windows 7 because it was starting to get a bit slow. I used disk cleanup but it completely avoided that file. There's nothing left in the Windows.old folder, other than that file. I attached a screenshot to show it to you,

 

Hmm ok well another simple way to get rid of it would be to boot into a live linux CD and your hard drives will be mounted, from that nativate to the Windows.old folder and delete it from that. You wont get prompted for NTFS permission errors etc... its guaranteed to work.

Quack 🦆

Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

Hmm ok well another simple way to get rid of it would be to boot into a live linux CD and your hard drives will be mounted, from that nativate to the Windows.old folder and delete it from that. You wont get prompted for NTFS permission errors etc... its guaranteed to work.

I'm gonna give this a try. I'll post the outcome later.

Has a Ph.D in Nothing and does not speak Chinese, Italian or French. (aber ich kann Deutsch sprechen)

Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

Hmm ok well another simple way to get rid of it would be to boot into a live linux CD and your hard drives will be mounted, from that nativate to the Windows.old folder and delete it from that. You wont get prompted for NTFS permission errors etc... its guaranteed to work.

You sir are AMAZING! It worked. I used an Old Ubuntu Live Disc and it worked brillantly! Thanks so much guys!

Has a Ph.D in Nothing and does not speak Chinese, Italian or French. (aber ich kann Deutsch sprechen)

Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing Troubleshooting

×