Having trouble with a simple delete from my computer.

[JuliaAguilar]

This is frustrating, really.

I have two folders I've been trying to delete, but the system won't let me. I run Windows XP, if that matters. The folders are empty, but I always get the same error message:

Cannot Delete Thumbs.db: Access is Denied.

Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and the file is not in use.

Okay, so how do I fix this? I tried selecting the folder and hitting SHIFT+DELETE like the help page told me to do, and the same thing comes up. I did a search on this file "Thumbs.db" and none of them are in the directory I'm deleting this file folder from. The folders are 100% empty, I've checked this a thousand times.

Someone, anyone, please help me delete these damn folders ... I'm tired of looking at them and they are taking up space.

[JuliaAguilar]

Nope, that didn't work. Got the same error message.

[Canty]

I had a similar problem. Here's how I was told how to sort it.


Go to Start, run, type in msconfig and hit enter.

Start the pc in safe mode by clicking on the BOOT.INI tab and selecting /SAFEBOOT click ok and you will be prompted to restart your computer. When it restarts it will be in safe mode and you will be able to delete it.

[Sofa King]

Sounds like you are a user other than the administrator. Log in as administrator and try that. Also try deleting from admin in safe mode. Either one of those should work.

[Oli]

When booting up xp pound the f8 key like your life depended on it.

Then select to boot up with command prompt and use good old dos to delete the folder. Never fails.

If you don't know how to use dos just type

cd "c:\whatever directory (or 'folder') the folder is in"
rmdir "the folders name"

(without the speach marks)

If the folder is not empty type
cd "c:\whatever directory (or 'folder') the folder is in"
cd "folders name"
del *.*
cd..
rmdir "the folders name"

[JuliaAguilar]

Sounds like you are a user other than the administrator. Log in as administrator and try that. Also try deleting from admin in safe mode. Either one of those should work.

Well I tried that one, and it worked for one of my folders, so problem is partially solved. The other folder, no matter how many times I change it from "read-only" to ... not ... it keeps going back to read-only and therefore I can't delete it. So I will try the next option down the list ... this is extremely frustrating. But thanks everyone for your help.

[Liquid_NRG]

I HATE that XP bug with a passion. It's annoying! Anyways, I've had that problem and found this (http://www.softwarepatch.com/software/moveonboot.html) simple utitility. It's called "Move On Boot", when you install it, it adds a right click menu to any file, so you right click on the stubborn file and click Move on boot > delete on next reboot. The file will be out of your life forever on the next reboot.

Enjoy!

[JuliaAguilar]

Thanks everyone, I finally got rid of those stupid folders, both of them. Just looking at them in my files irritated me. But I got rid of them so I'm happy. Thanks for the help guys.

[VIRUS]

next time just start ur pc up in safe mode and then delete it. Whatever program that was using that folder or file wont run on safemode

[russian]

if this every happens next time the easiest thing to do is restart your compite, and just start tapping F8, go into SAFEMODE with networking or without dosnt really matter, but i prefere without. because your antivirus or anti spyware isnt running in the back ground to protect you. and then just delete the file from safe mode.