How Do I Remove/delete Downloaded Files From My Hard Drive

[BUR241166]

Please help i have some file i would rather delete how do i do this?

[SS]

That's extremely vague.

 

The usual method for deleting files is double-click on My Computer, then navigate to where the file is, highlight (single click) the file then press "Delete" (NOT back space) on the keyboard. Confirm the dialogue that appears and your file is sent to the Recycle Bin.

 

If you want to clear it from the Recycle Bin, right-click the Recycle Bin and select "Empty".

[Hellbent]

I am also having a similar problem in that I have a file that cannot identify and I want to delete. But every time I try to delete it, I get a message that it is being used by aother program. I think it is a virus but every time I try to scan it, it says the same thing. Can anybody help?

[SS]

Experience tells me that its unlikely to be a virus. Virii tend to be better at hiding than that. (But its always possible I suppose.)

 

It sounds like a process which is launched automatically on startup is locking the file. If so, you could try booting into Safe Mode (try this link if you don't know how: http://www.computerhope.com/issues/chsafe.htm) as this disables running most startup processes. If you can delete this file when in safe mode then this was the problem.

 

Of course, if that process NEEDS that file, it might complain after that.

 

Out of interest, what's the file's name?

[Hellbent]

SS,

I will try that. The name of the file is Perflib_Perfdata_84c. Does that tell you anything?

Thanks

[Jamey]

After a bit of googling, that file is in use and being locked by a piece of malware, specifically adware.

 

First, download the Windows Defender software. Install it on your computer and then restart it your computer in Safe Mode.

 

You then need to scan your computer with Windows Defender. I recommend you choose "Full Scan". Once the scan is finished, quarantine all of the items.

 

This should rid you of the malware; it will also probably find other pieces of malware lurking on your computer and remove them too.