Delete Undeletable Files In Windows XP

While deleting files, you often may have come across “Error in deleting files.” This error is basically saying, “The file or folder you are deleting is being used.” 

Usually, you don’t know why this error shows even though you are not using the file. This error could be a system bug, or you may be using the file, or the file is currently running in the background or used by the shared computers. 

Generally, you will get such an error only when deleting a file that is being used or a protected file.

I’ll show you different ways to remove these files and even some software applications that can help to delete these files. Furthermore, I’ll tell you the best way of eliminating such files in Windows.

Follow the below steps to Remove Undeletable files in Windows XP

Solution #1:

In case the error occurred due to the file being used by some programs or applications. Try restarting the system. Once the system is restarted, try deleting the files or folders you attempted to delete earlier. If it doesn’t help, try another method or solution mentioned below.

Solution #2:

Delete the File Using Command Prompt

Step 1: Navigate to the location where the file is located, e.g., C:\new folder\undeletable file.exe. Note down the directory.

Step 2: Open the command prompt. Go to Start –> Run, Now type “cmd” and press Enter.

Step 3: Open Task Manager. Press CTRL + ALT + DEL. In Task Manager, click on the Processes tab, find explorer.exe in the process list and kill the explorer.exe process via the “End Process” button.

Step 4: We will use the command prompt to delete the file. Switch to the Command Prompt window. In Command Prompt, use the CD command to locate the file directory in the command prompt. 

Once you are in the directory, use the below command in the command prompt.

Enter Del <file name>

i.e., Del “Undeletable file.exe” and Press Enter.

Here, we are using the DEL command to delete the file.

Step 5: Now, Go to Task manager and bring back the explorer.exe. Go to file –> New Task and Enter Explorer.exe and Press OK.

Solution #3:

Delete File Using Software: Unlocker

Since some application or process uses the file, you don’t know which application or process is using it. In such a case, Unlocker is the best option to solve this problem. Unlocker is a tool that not only deletes files but also tells which program or application is using them.

Many such software is available on the internet, which does the same task, but we prefer Unlocker. It tells which program or application is using the file; it unlocks the process for that file and deletes the file. Using Unlocker is the safest way of deleting a file since you know which processes are associated with that file, so you don’t have to regret it later. Download Unlocker from FileHippo.

(Update) Many of our readers asked me, “Applications like Adobe, flash, Photoshop, etc. Folders are not getting deleted.” These files are protected, and you cannot easily delete such files. However, to delete this file, you try using Solution #2, but the best way to delete such files is Unlocker, i.e., Solution #3, As it is fast and straightforward.