There's no such thing as a file you can't delete

Sooner or later, almost every PC user runs into a situation where some file or folder resists all normal methods of deletion. I regularly receive e-mails from readers asking me what they should do in this situation. As part of the solution, I described how to remove "undeletable" malware in my Dec. 4, 2008, WindowsSecrets.Com column.

The question comes up so often that it's worth providing a "once and for all" answer. A recent e-mail from reader David Henderson serves as my jumping-off point. David asks specifically about GPS software files, but the same issue can occur with all types of files in all versions of Windows:

"I recently updated my GPS map files from Garmin. After I finished, I uninstalled the Garmin program. I now have Garmin files remaining that can't be deleted. I even tried a command-line delete, with no success. Please tell me how to get rid of these files."

The most common reason for undeletable files is that they're marked as "in use" — even if they really aren't. Windows won't remove a file that it thinks is currently open, because the operating system is attempting to avoid instability.

Alternatively, some software — either by accident or through bad design — create files with nonstandard, invalid names or other attributes that Windows can't handle. Some malware does this deliberately, making the infected files difficult to clear out.

A fuller explanation, with links to the software I recommend for deleting supposedly "undeletable" files, is the top topic in my current weekly WindowsSecrets.com column.

The other items this week include:

• Fix 'unknown device' errors in Device Manager
  
• Identify an external drive's format type
  
• Use the best tool to convert WMA/MP3 audio files

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