Sometimes inconveniences frustrate work on computers, no matter how simple they are. In this article, we will place ourselves in the following situation: I can't delete a file from the PC. We will tell you how to do it.
I can't delete a file
Part of computer security standards implies the correct elimination of files from our PC. When trying to delete files from our PC, it does not allow us to do so. It usually throws us messages like: the file is being used by another user, the file address cannot be found, the disk is full or write-protected, there is a sharing violation, etc. The main causes are usually:
- The file or folder is in hidden format.
- It is being used by other processes in the system.
- The file is infected by viruses.
- This is a read-only file.
- It belongs to another user.
- We do not have the rights to remove it.
- The hard drive has general faults.
Show hidden files
The first step before trying to delete a file is to make sure it is visible. For this, we go to the Start menu> My Computer> Tools> Folder options> View. By clicking on this last tab, we must select Advanced Settings. Within the options menu, we select Show hidden files and folders. It is also recommended to disable the option to Hide protected files of the operating system.
Once this is done, the changes are accepted and the computer is restarted in safe mode to try again to delete the file.
Copy and paste a file
This recommendation works for both deleting files and deleting folders. The first thing we must do is go to a higher level in the address scheme, and create a file with the same name as the one we want to delete. After creating it, we copy and paste it in the same location where the file that cannot be deleted is, that is, we replace it.
Stop the explorer.exe process
To stop this process that prevents file deletion, you need to use the following command: Ctrl + Alt + Del. When the icons and the taskbar disappear, we select the New task option in File. We locate the file, select the Compact Disks option and execute the Del command. We repeat the File> New task sequence.
Do a hard drive scan
If with the previous options, we have not yet been able to delete the file, another option is to perform an analysis with scandisk. The first thing to do is follow the sequence indicated below: MY PC> Properties> Tools> Error checking> Check now.
Another way is to follow the following procedure: Right click on Hard Drive> Partition> Properties> Tools. Once there, we select Error checking> Check now.
When the analysis is done, we try again to delete the file.
If this option does not work, we can repeat the procedure but in safe mode.
Use an antivirus
Another option to eliminate a file that is difficult to delete is to carry out a complete computer scan using an updated antivirus.
If none of the above alternatives were satisfactory, we still have the possibility to use specialized tools to delete files or folders.
Helpful tools
These basic tools will help us get rid of files that we no longer want, and that are difficult to delete.
Microsoft SDelete
It is a free program that uses computer commands to permanently delete files from the hard drive. When downloading it to our PC, we only have to activate the sdelete command, plus the name of the file.ext, and the file will be deleted in a single step.
Eraser
It is a free and easy-to-use tool that deletes files from the hard drive by overwriting them. Provides the possibility of a simple or advanced erase. With the last option you have more possibilities, since it allows you to choose the method, the type of elements to be deleted, and accepts the programming of specific times and dates for their deletion.
hardwipe
Free program, whose basic functions are free. It is fully compatible with Windows, and allows you to safely and permanently delete files and folders from the recycle bin.
Unlocker
It is one of the easiest tools to use. Because it is only required to right click to get the file to be deleted. The file will be renamed, deleted or moved, depending on whether it is being used or not at the moment.
It is important to clarify that with the common options you have to delete files, they are not deleted from the hard drive, but rather they fall into the Recycle Bin, waiting to be replaced later. From this trash can, they can be easily recovered, unless we decide to overwrite them, that is, write random data to the disk space where the file used to be. Only the newly written random data will be visible, and no one will be able to retrieve the file.