Delete Stubborn Mystery Files

[Guest Darrel]

Several files with names like CA6Z8TYN with attribute HSA and size 0

kB have appeared on my drive. Unable to delete them. Attrib -H -S

CA6Z8TYN simply gets File not found. They foul up backups as XP ain’t

smart enough to ask „Do you want to skip this file?“ but just grinds

the copy to a standstill.

How to get rid of them?

[Guest Bob Harris]

Re: Delete Stubborn Mystery Files

 

First, be sure that the files are really there. Run CHKDSK C: /F and

reboot. This should fix any files system problems.

 

If the files still appear to be there, boot the PC from something other than

the normal windows XP on your hard drive. Options include the XP recovery

console from the XP CD (if you have one), Windows PE CD (if can find one), a

Bart's PE CD you make on your own computer, a free LINUX live CD like

KNOPPIX, etc. Navigate to the location of the files and delete them.

 

It might also be a good idea to do a virus scan, run from a bootable CD.

See for example the Ultimate Boot Disk.

 

"Darrel" <DarrelJames@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:d97e0bf2-139e-4631-a0c3-ae797e622945@x41g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...

Several files with names like CA6Z8TYN with attribute HSA and size 0

kB have appeared on my drive. Unable to delete them. Attrib -H -S

CA6Z8TYN simply gets File not found. They foul up backups as XP ain’t

smart enough to ask „Do you want to skip this file?“ but just grinds

the copy to a standstill.

How to get rid of them?

[Guest John Corliss]

Re: Delete Stubborn Mystery Files

 

Darrel wrote:

> Several files with names like CA6Z8TYN with attribute HSA and size 0

> kB have appeared on my drive. Unable to delete them. Attrib -H -S

> CA6Z8TYN simply gets File not found. They foul up backups as XP ain’t

> smart enough to ask „Do you want to skip this file?“ but just grinds

> the copy to a standstill.

> How to get rid of them?

 

Try this freeware program:

 

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

 

I use it all the time. Works flawlessly for me.

 

--

John Corliss

[Guest PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Re: Delete Stubborn Mystery Files

 

Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827315

 

Run a /thorough/ check for hijackware, including posting your hijackthis log

to an appropriate forum.

 

Checking for/Help with Hijackware

http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm

http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=5878

http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal_and_Prevention:_Introduction

http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm

http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html

http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm

http://defendingyourmachine2.blogspot.com/

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

 

When all else fails, HijackThis v2.0.2

(http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.exe) is the preferred tool to use (in

conjuction with some other utilities). HijackThis will NOT fix anything on

its own, but it will help you to both identify and remove any

hijackware/spyware with assistance from an expert. **Post your log to

http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30,

http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,

http://castlecops.com/forum67.html, or other appropriate forums for review

by an expert in such matters, not here.**

 

If the procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting this

isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and

independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA or Geek Squad) computer repair shop.

 

--

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)

MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002

AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net

DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

 

Darrel wrote:

> Several files with names like CA6Z8TYN with attribute HSA and size 0

> kB have appeared on my drive. Unable to delete them. Attrib -H -S

> CA6Z8TYN simply gets File not found. They foul up backups as XP ain’t

> smart enough to ask „Do you want to skip this file?“ but just grinds

> the copy to a standstill.

> How to get rid of them?

[Guest Plato]

Re: Delete Stubborn Mystery Files

 

Darrel wrote:

>

> Several files with names like CA6Z8TYN with attribute HSA and size 0

> kB have appeared on my drive. Unable to delete them. Attrib -H -S

> CA6Z8TYN simply gets File not found. They foul up backups as XP ain’t

> smart enough to ask „Do you want to skip this file?“ but just grinds

> the copy to a standstill.

> How to get rid of them?

 

http://www.bootdisk.com/utility.htm

GENERAL FILE UTILITIES

Stubborn File Deleters

[Guest ju.c]

Re: Delete Stubborn Mystery Files

 

These are the best apps for file deletion, all free.

(You can't delete a folder if you have it opened)

 

Unlocker 1.8.7 237 KB

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

Download: http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/unlocker1.8.7.exe

 

KillBox 90 KB

Info: http://www.killbox.net/

Download: http://www.killbox.net/downloads/KillBox.exe

 

FileASSASSIN 1.06 163 KB

Info: http://www.malwarebytes.org/fileassassin.php

Download: http://www.malwarebytes.org/fa-setup.exe

 

DelinvFile - Delete Invalid Files and Folders

Info: http://www.purgeie.com/delinv/index.htm

Download: http://www.purgeie.com/dl/divfinst.exe

 

 

This is a trick to delete an undeletable file by restoring a file over it with a file

created with the same name using a drive imaging program.

 

Instructions:

 

1. Create a text file and write in it a couple of letters.

2. Save that file in your root drive (C: for example) with the

same exact name and extension as the file you want to delete.

3. Now make a backup your new file (I used Acronis True Image).

4. Open your backup program and restore the file you created to

the folder where the undeletable file is, overwriting it.

4. Now you can delete it!

5. Run chkdsk

 

 

ju.c

 

> Darrel wrote:

>

> Several files with names like CA6Z8TYN with attribute HSA and size 0

> kB have appeared on my drive. Unable to delete them. Attrib -H -S

> CA6Z8TYN simply gets File not found. They foul up backups as XP ain’t

> smart enough to ask „Do you want to skip this file?“ but just grinds

> the copy to a standstill.

> How to get rid of them?