I want to delete a folder or a page

[XPTO]

Hi, there.

I want to delete a folder and when I use the action " delete " i'm not able and it returns the message :

" The action can't be completed because the file is open in System "


When I reboot Windows and restart the PC again, it continues the same thing and I can't eliminate the file.


How can I delete that damned file?

Thank you for your help.

[jagabo]

Try rebooting in Safe Mode and deleting the folder/file. If that doesn't work reboot in to safe mode with command line only and delete the folder/file.

[krykmoon]

Even better: use a Linux Distro Live CD (such as Linux Mint, very easy and straightforward.. but most distros are also good)..

Boot with it (you don't have to install anything with Distro LIVE CD - you may use a USB memory stick as medium, not physical CDs required ).. and .. you can do whatever you want with every Windows folder (even core System folders)

BUT KEEP IN MIND that if you delete some essential folder or files that are needed for your Windows installation to work.. you may incur in various kind of problems (even the incapability to boot it)

What folders are you trying to delete ? (search online on any reliable site - not ask to the crappy AI - to be sure of what they are and if they may be deleted or not)

[TreeTops]

To search in Google without AI use -ai at the end of your search request. Like this search: the color of white -ai

[flashandpan007]

http://www.emptyloop.com/unlocker/

[abolibibelot]

http://www.emptyloop.com/unlocker/

Last I checked, Unlocker had a poor reputation due to the installer being loaded with “PUP” kind of crap.
I've been using LockHunter ever since.

But as it's been pointed out by “krikmoon” if a file is being used by the system, you (OP 6 months later or any “reasonable being” in the future) have to be absolutely certain that it can be safely deleted.

[EDIT] I just noticed that this question is a near duplicate of that one from same OP asked THREE YEARS EARLIER. Which is kinda WEIRD.
Many things in this world are no longer making any SENSE.

[flashandpan007]

Unlocker is not being installed as it is a standalone exe which is just run like GPU-Z. So where is the crapware in non-existent installer? Be sure to download from author and you will be fine. But this applies for all programs

[abolibibelot]

Unlocker is not being installed as it is a standalone exe which is just run like GPU-Z. So where is the crapware in non-existent installer? Be sure to download from author and you will be fine. But this applies for all programs

I read (and saved) those reports in 2015 and they were actually from 2009, so quite a long while ago. Not sure if it was an issue with a specific third party installer, or if it affected the original installer provided on the developer's website. Some said that these were “false positives”, but a screenshot on page 3 (apparently showing the install process with the original installer) did indeed show a suspicious “Explorer extension” and “eBay shortcuts” that you had to un-tick during install to not have that crap on your system. The very last post provided a link to the so-called “portable” version, which corresponds to a standalone executable. Perhaps this has become the standard by now. Perhaps also the author listened to criticism and stopped adding those dubious “features”, but once a program gets associated with such shady practices, or any other kind of issue, voluntary or accidental, it's very difficult then to convince former users who moved on to something else that it's perfectly fine to use it again. (Example: CCleaner.)

[GAhere]

I have used IOBit unlocker on a few stubborn files and folders.

https://www.iobit.com/en/iobit-unlocker.php

Can't say about the newest versions if they are safe or do not carry unwanted junk so as always be cautious.. I have a copy of an older version that was OK, but as one knows, safe does not always stay safe now days.

However, use this product with extreme care, random removal of any files/folders the Windows system has locked or declared to be part of the OS is the same as a blind man walking through a mine field, the results may be the same, blowing up the system.

Locking files and folders is a means to keep your system safe from hackers and non hackers like the user from messing around or tinkering with important files. But once and a while you run into the random poorly written program that doesn't clean up it's mess when you shut it down so having a means to clean that up is not always a bad thing..

For the most part, most leftover files are harmless and unless you are dealing with an extremely small drive (like a on board 64 GB SSD drive I would recommend leaving the locked files and folders in place as they will do no harm other than wasting some drive space.