I have a problem where i want to delete the old Documents and Settings from my last windows install and there is no process it just wont happen.

I had trouble with a corrupt jpg file, it had an extremely long name, and it was impossible to move or delete, i tried deleting it in safe mode, i even tried moveonboot which was supposed to work, i eventually got rid of it just using command prompt. To get the dos name of the file, simply type “dir /X” which will give u a list of files and directories, but with the old form of dos name (eg filena~1.txt) and then “del [filename]“

well, the “unlocker” download, in several incarnations, just
didn’t work. Now I have to uninstall this crap and triple-re-run
the diagnostics to make sure you didn’t send me a load of shit
Tom

Well, I am not in a good mood. your software doesn’t work

Well it was a good thought but i tried that program and it didnt work. It won’t delete an empty folder such as I have so I am stumped for the moment. I’ve been working on this and many other problems for about four days.

Unblocker is junk. Stop ruining your credibility by advocating something that doesn’t work.

I just found a great solution to this problem, I hope it applies to all situations.

Edit the Security permissions on the folder containing the 3 dll files (In my case it was named “ActiveX”), then assign Full Control permissions to your account.

It seems that even local Admins aren’t given full control on this folder. Hope this helps

Nothing worked for me, until I found your article.

THANK YOU! Unlocker worked great! It was the only thing that worked, nothing else did.

Thank you so much.

Not only do I not have a Security tab, I also don’t have a “use simple file sharing” option.

I am lost.

Terry S.,thanks so much for your article was the only solution to delete secured files on Windows XP.

Trying to delete a folder. Getting “Access is denied” None of the above suggestions worked, including Unlocker, but it did allow me to rename the folder. Some of the security options above are not available with Windows XP Home. Also tried the command: rd /s /q “\\?\c:\path_to_folder ” . Finally went to “Sharing and Security”. Checked “Make this Folder Private”. Ok so far. Underscore appears under folder name. Deleted as usual. Worked like a charm. Whew.

I ran into this with two folders created on an external drive I used when installing Windows recently. Couldn’t remove them in Safe Mode or DOS and no programs that tracked usage worked since the files weren’t in use, just had access permission locked.
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Here’s what works for files/folders you don’t have permission to remove. Do the changes in the post by Terry S. – repeated and expanded here.

It’s important to find out what files or folders you can’t delete. You might have access to the folder, but not 1 file within it. Or access to the main folder, but not to a sub-folder. You must change the exact file you can’t access – or the folder.

Make sure you are signed on as either Administrator or a user with Administrator power.
Open Explorer, click Tools then Folder Options. In Advanced Settings window, scroll down and un-check “Use simple file sharing”. If you don’t do this, you’ll never see a Security tab.

Right-click on the exact folder or file in Explorer (you likely can’t left-click on it) and choose either “Sharing and Security” or “Properties”, then Security. You may get a message saying you don’t have permission – but telling you that you can take ownership. Choose that if needed.

You’ll have a window with box labeled “Group or user names” and a box below showing various permissions – these are likely grayed out and can’t be changed. Click on Advanced.

Choose “Effective Permissions” then the Select button. This gives you a confusing window. You need to put your username into the “Enter the object name to select” box. This is tricky because it doesn’t give good hints at what is needed here – what it really wants is your “computername\username” But entering your user name will work, then click on Check Names button and it should replace the username with the proper format. You can also put in “Administrators”, Check Names and add the group. Then click OK. (Computer names are the Location; user and group names are Object Types.)

Choose “Owner” and highlight the new owner – your username or groupname. Check the box “Replace owner on subcontainers and objects” and click OK. You’ll be warned about replacing permissions, approve this.

You may then be prompted to change permissions – click on Full then OK. You may not need this step.

You should now be able to delete or move and otherwise access these files. The permissions may extend to other files locked out by the same program.

(Instructions vary a lot depending on OS and version of OS. These steps will give enough info to fix these access problems for most.)

The Security/Ownership screen may give some clues as to why the file/folder is locked out. The current owner may be listed – in my case it showed “S-1-5-21-1960408961-…” and I looked that up in the Registry and found “Protected Storage System Provider” is what locked it up.

Error: Cannot delete FILENAME: Access is Denied
when I delete file give me error. ( In windows XP sp2)

go to run > cmd >enter

after than Task manager > click on Proccess Tab> select explorer.exe> cleck on > End process

after than come on CMD promt (delete your file with Del command )
Example:
D:\>del undeletablefilename.mp4
then go to task manager> click on New task > type explorer.exe>enter

Check your file successfully deleted.

Worked perfect thanks very much!