[Viper69]

I found a small file on my desktop. Windows says it's 0 bytes in size.

I tried deleting in normal windows, and in safe mode. I get the same error

"Cannot read from the source file or disk"

Also, I have the free utility Eraser. If I right click on that particular file the Eraser selection in my right click context menu is missing. But if I highlight any other file it seems, the ability to erase a file is back in the context menu.

I check the file w/KAV, and it didn't detect a virus.

Lastly, when I highlight the file there seems to be an extra few pixels past the last letter of the file's name. Maybe some sort of invisible character??

I'm wondering if this is a pesky little malware. I don't think so, but anything is possible. All I was doing was downloading the same file twice, and I think my old system got confused and missnamed it somehow I don't know.

Any ideas??

[redduc900]

Try Delete Doctor...

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4473

[Viper69]

Originally Posted by redduc900

Try Delete Doctor...

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4473

Thanks. I tried Malwarebytes' File Assassin, and that didn't work I just tried Delete Doctor and that didn't work either. I tried all the methods for deleting too, even the one on start up. When I go through the C prompt DOS says the file isn't there.

I finally tried Del filename*.* THAT worked...How weird.

[c627627]

Sometimes you need to check your hard drive for errors to get rid of some 0 byte size files.

[orion456]

Yep

chkdsk /f in a command box followed by

sfc /scannow to be sure your system files are in tact

and then over night

chkdsk /r to be sure the hard drive is still in good shape

[Viper69]

Thanks guys..will do.

[Pinky]

Best bet is to boot into winPE / bartPE and remove the file(s) that way. This circumvents the corruption in the windows security information seen by the operating system. Maybe the ultimate boot cd or Hirens has a winPE (Mini XP is another term for it) that will allow you file level access to the contents of the hard drive.

[BoxingChaos2011]

Originally Posted by Viper69

I found a small file on my desktop. Windows says it's 0 bytes in size.

I tried deleting in normal windows, and in safe mode. I get the same error

"Cannot read from the source file or disk"

Also, I have the free utility Eraser. If I right click on that particular file the Eraser selection in my right click context menu is missing. But if I highlight any other file it seems, the ability to erase a file is back in the context menu.

I check the file w/KAV, and it didn't detect a virus.

Lastly, when I highlight the file there seems to be an extra few pixels past the last letter of the file's name. Maybe some sort of invisible character??

I'm wondering if this is a pesky little malware. I don't think so, but anything is possible. All I was doing was downloading the same file twice, and I think my old system got confused and missnamed it somehow I don't know.

Any ideas??

Windows XP has always had a little trouble deleting ur occasional file or folder.

Sometimes when a file has strange characters, u can't delete the file in XP and just renaming it, allows you to delete.

A program that helped me often back then when using XP is

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

It is freeware and I am not sure if this comes with any secret hand shakes like Yahoo Toolbar and so on, so make sure you watch what you are installing and agreeing to, most programs that do come bundled with extra junk allow you to choose directly to NOT install crap or by going to advanced set up and selecting NO to certain things.

The program is pretty straight forward you can right click on file and kill process, unlock and delete.

If this fails, a program like an old BC wipe has solved my problems in the past if the above failed.

Also might want to change the files and folders view settings
In ur Folder options under VIEW
uncheck HIDE EXTENSIONS FOR KNOWN FILE TYPES.

This might give you a little more to see about the extension of the file if any.

[dan_lee_01]

Hi People!

When I receive this kind of messages, or messages like path too long, Could not find this item, Error Copying File or Folder, etc. I simply use this software and it is very cost-time effective:
http://longpathtool.com/

[habbajabba]

All you need is a prog like Delete FXP or better yet FilExile from SF.
http://filexile.sourceforge.net/team.htm