Cannot remove no access windows xp. How to restore access to a folder. Can't delete folder - no access or disk is write-protected
It happens that you simply need to delete a folder or file, but Windows does not allow you to do this and writes about errors like " this process busy" or "folder is not empty" or something else. Maybe you found some folder or file that you "didn't like" and want to delete it. Maybe you know for sure that this is "unnecessary junk" that only takes up space, and Windows curses and does not allow. In general, it is not so important Why can't I delete it?, How many How to delete and in this article you will find answers to this question.
Most often, such situations occur due to the fact that the files being deleted are occupied by other programs. But it also happens that it is impossible to delete a file even after closing all applications that can use this file. For example, a file or folder may become locked due to incorrect user actions and cannot be deleted in any way. These folders (files) remain “hanging” on the hard drive, take up space, and are not opened or deleted.
The file may not be deleted due to a failure that occurred during the process of writing or overwriting it. If you interrupt the recording process, the file is not completely saved, resulting in invalid entries in file system. And our beloved Windows, not knowing how to handle it, simply closes access to it, supposedly for security reasons.
So, let's start dancing with a tambourine!
Why is the file not deleted?
1) The file was blocked by an antivirus program. This often happens when an antivirus quarantines a file. Or the antivirus detected malware, but the treatment was postponed (waiting for its databases to be updated). In this case, in order to avoid infecting the computer, the user is blocked from accessing this file. Check the quarantine of your antivirus program and delete the file using the antivirus itself, or disable the antivirus and delete the file manually.
2) The file is being used by another program. Think about what programs might use this file. Close them and try deleting the file again. If this doesn't help, use Task Manager to check the process list to see if the program is still running.
3) Administrator rights are required to delete a file. If you are working under account user, log in again as an administrator and try to delete the file.
4) The file is being used by another user local network . Please wait and try deleting the file later.
5) The file is being used by the system. Try deleting the file after restarting your computer or in safe mode.
6) The device is write protected. For example, SD memory cards and some USB flash drives have a special switch to lock the device.
There are several removal methods, I will start with the simplest and most effective ones and gradually move on to more complex ones.
1. Method:
Reboot
We programmers have a saying: “7 troubles - one reset.” You can figure out what it means yourself
But the point of the method is that you need to restart the computer and try to delete the file/folder again.
2. Method:
You need to log in in Safe Mode.
What is the benefit of booting the system in safe mode? The thing is that Windows does not load its libraries to execute dialogs. To put it simply, if you have a virus on your computer (and this is possible), then in this safe mode it will not perform any actions. In this mode there is nothing superfluous, just a clean OS and a person.
In order to enter this mode, when you turn on the computer and after loading the BIOS (or in general you can from the very beginning of the “black screen” boot), press the key intensively without ceasing F8(no need to press and hold!!!). A black screen will appear in which you need to use the keys on the keyboard to select Additional boot options, and then Safe Mode (or just Safe Mode, you don’t need to select all sorts of things with command line support and so on. And that will do) and press Enter. If you did everything correctly, the system will boot and in the lower right corner there will be an inscription Safe Mode (it may also be in all corners). Don't be afraid of the black screen that will appear) without wallpaper and beauty.
Now you need to find the file that you just couldn’t delete and try to delete it. In any case (it worked or not), reboot.
3. Method:
Through the Unlocker program
It is precisely for such purposes that the good guys wrote such a program called Unlocker. This is a very small, free program for unlocking files running on Windows. This utility allows you to close open file blockers, thereby making it possible to perform further actions on these files. Those. the program shows all processes blocking a file (folder) and can delete it, despite all the blockers.
In addition, the program allows you to rename files and their extensions or move a locked file to another location. This is also very convenient, because... Windows does not always allow you to do this quickly and calmly.
When installing, DO NOT agree to the proposed toolbar (or you really need it, then click Next) and uncheck Install Babylon Toolbar - RECOMMENDED. Otherwise, the installation is normal - everywhere Next I Accept Install and that’s it)
Just right-click on the file that is not being deleted (not moved/renamed) in the usual way and select the program icon from the menu. A window should appear in which you select Delete from the list and press the button OK.
If the file or folder is blocked, another window will appear. First you need to press the button Unlock everything, and then Delete.
For those who don’t know what the bit depth is on the system, read
4. Method:
Through file managers
Of all the most popular and frequently used file managers, the most popular is Total Commander.
File managers have the ability to bypass some Windows restrictions, which we will use.
To delete a non-deletable file, we will need to download one of these file managers, FAR or Total Commander (I use Total Commander Podarok Edition). After downloading and installation, find your file in the list of directories and delete it by clicking either the right mouse button and selecting Delete, or pressing the Delete key on the keyboard.
These managers also have a good opportunity to see everything that is hidden and encrypted (especially in different colors, like mine). If your folder is not deleted, then go into it through the manager and see what’s there. If you see a hidden file, it means it is interfering. Then launch Task Manager ( ctrl+shift+esc), go to the Processes tab and look for this file in the list (it’s also a good idea to click on the button at the bottom left of the Display the processes of all users manager), find and finish (del or RMB -> End process or the End process button in the lower right corner). The application is the same with files, we look for the file name and “kill”.
5. Method:
Another option with Unlocker
If your folder is not deleted, it says something like “the folder is not empty,” then create a new folder on the same disk, transfer the non-deletable folders to the new folder, delete the new folder using Unlocker
6. Method:
Using startup
Click “Start” => “Run” => In the “Run” line, enter msconfig => Click OK. You will see the System Setup window. Go to the “Startup” tab and in the list of downloadable items, find a name similar to your “not deleted” file.
If there is no such file in the list, then click on the “Disable all” button. Click on the “Apply” => “Close” button. The operating system will issue a warning that all changes made by the system setup program will take effect only after rebooting the computer. Click the "Reboot" button. The computer will restart. After downloading, try deleting the “undeletable” file again.
7. Method:
Using System Restore
In the “System Settings” window (which was the same as in the previous paragraph), select “General”. Click on the “Run System Restore” button. In the window that appears, select the option “Restore the computer to an earlier state”, click “Next”. In a new window, you will see a calendar in which you can select a system restore date. Select a date when the "not deleted" file was not on the computer. Click "Next". Don't worry, System Restore will not affect your personal files.
8. Method:
Lack of access rights to delete files
Right-click on the problematic object and select "Properties" from the drop-down list
In the window that opens, select the “Security” tab
Highlight your name in the list and select "Full Control"
- “Apply” and “OK”
Trying to delete
9. Method:
Use a different operating system.
Try booting from a removable disk (or CD/DVD) (LiveCD or LiveUSB) with another operating system. Then delete the file/folder.
10. Method:
Move somewhere.
Sometimes it helps to move (cut) the folder to an empty flash drive and then format it.
11. Method:
In the window, type the command chkdsk c: /f/r and click Enter, it should be taken into account that c: is the name of the disk that needs to be checked. If the drive you are checking has a different letter, then write it.
If the drive being checked is C:, then when you press Enter You will be prompted to check it the next time you reboot. When asked whether to check or not at the next reboot, enter Y and press Enter.
If the disk name is different, the scan will begin immediately. At the end of the check, the result of the check will appear. Type exit and click Enter.
Now you can delete a file that you did not want to delete. In the case of drive C, simply restart the computer and after checking, delete the non-deletable file.
12. Method:
If you open the command line via Start - All Programs...run the process as an administrator (RMB and Run as Administrator) and move to the folder with the non-deletable file (or folder) using the cd \ command in order to be in the root directory disk, and then cd folder_name to go to the desired folder.
Very often, when you try to delete even an empty folder from your desktop or recycle bin, you fail.
Typically in such situations you will receive one of the following messages.
- No access
- the folder is not empty
- the object is in use
- the disc is write protected
- can't find file
What to do then. There is an exit. You will need to perform one or two steps or use a special program. Let's go in order.
Can't delete folder - no access or disk is write-protected
Before we begin describing the removal of folders that cannot be accessed, we should talk about viruses.
True, they are usually in the form of mini programs and are capable of “clinging” to the system and even masquerading as system files, that not only cannot be removed using conventional methods, but also special uninstallers.
What can be done in such cases. Grant access or remove protection. you can find out here.
Often elevated rights are required to delete a file. . Also do not forget that sometimes the problem is solved by simple reboot computer or laptop.
Why can't I delete a folder from the Recycle Bin?
There may be various files hidden in the trash (for example, Dc1, Dc2, Dd3, windows.old, bonjour) that do not want to be deleted.
There are several options depending on the position. You can use (for a very long time), or special programs, which are described in the last section.
Can't delete folder - object is in use
If, when deleting, it says that the object is in use, then it needs to be closed. The folder may contain any document or program.
You opened them and forgot. Very often it can be seen in and closed. Also, sometimes simply restarting the computer helps (rebooting helps to delete the empty folder).
If the methods above did not help, and you know the name of the process/program/object, then you can close it in , and then safely delete the folder.
Program for deleting non-deletable folders
This is a small Russian-language utility that allows you to unlock and delete even non-deletable files.
In addition, Unlocker can significantly help to carry out such operations as: renaming, deleting, moving.
With its help, you won’t be able to say, I can’t delete a folder, because the file cannot be deleted, since it is being used by another application.
A common problem that novice users encounter is that a file or folder is not deleted (due to some file) that needs to be deleted. At the same time, the system writes the file is occupied by another process or The action cannot be performed because this file is open in ProgramName or that you need to ask permission from someone. This can be encountered in any version of the OS - Windows 7, 8, Windows 10 or XP.
Another way to delete such a file is to boot from any LiveCD drive, system recovery disk, or Windows bootable USB flash drive. When using LiveCD in any of its variants, you can use either the standard graphical interface Windows (for example, in BartPE) and Linux (Ubuntu), or using command line tools. Please note that when booting from such a drive, the computer's hard drives may appear under different letters. To ensure that you are deleting a file from the correct drive, you can use the command dirc:(this example will display a list of folders on drive C).
When using a bootable USB flash drive or installation Windows disk 7 and Windows 8, at any time during installation (after the language selection window has already loaded and in the following steps), press Shift + F10 to enter command line. You can also select "System Restore", a link to which is also present in the installation program. Also, as in the previous case, pay attention to possible changes in drive letters.
Using DeadLock to Unlock and Delete Files
Since the Unlocker program discussed below, even from the official website, has recently (2016) begun to install various unwanted programs and is blocked by browsers and antiviruses, I propose to consider an alternative - DeadLock, which also allows you to unlock and delete files from your computer (it also promises to change the owner, but in it didn't work in my tests).
So, if when deleting a file you see a message that the action cannot be performed because the file is open in some program, then using DeadLock in the File menu you can add this file to the list, and then, using the right click - unlock it (Unlock) and remove it (Remove). You can also move the file. 
The program, although in English (perhaps a Russian translation will appear soon), is very easy to use. Disadvantage (and for some, perhaps an advantage) - unlike Unlocker, it does not add the action of unlocking a file to the Explorer context menu. You can download DeadLock from the official website http://codedead.com/?page_id=822 Free Unlocker to unlock files that won't be deleted
The Unlocker program is probably the most popular way to delete files that are used by a particular process. The reasons for this are simple: it is free, it does its job properly, and in general, it works. You can download Unlocker for free on the official website of the developer http://www.emptyloop.com/unlocker/(the site has recently been identified as malicious).
Using the program is very simple - after installation, just right-click on the file that is not being deleted and select “Unlocker” from the context menu. If you are using the portable version of the program, which is also available for download, launch the program and a window will open to select the file or folder you want to delete.
The essence of the program is the same as in the first method described - unloading from memory the processes that are occupied by the file. The main advantages over the first method are that using the Unlocker program it is easier to delete a file and, moreover, it can find and terminate a process that is hidden from the eyes of users, that is, not viewable through the task manager.
Update 2017: Another method, judging by the reviews, works successfully, was proposed in the comments by the author Tokha IT specialist: install and open the 7-Zip archiver (free, works the same as file manager) and rename the file in it, which is not deleted. After this, the removal is successful.
Why is the file or folder not being deleted?
What may be preventing you from deleting a file or folder?
If you don't have the necessary system rights to change a file or folder, you can't delete it. If you didn't create the file, then chances are you can't delete it. The reason may also be settings made by the computer administrator.
Also, a file or folder containing it cannot be deleted if currently the file is open in the program. You can try closing all programs and try again.
Why when I try to delete a file does Windows say the file is in use?
This error message means that the file is being used by the program. Thus, you need to find the program that uses it and either close the file in it, if it is, for example, a document, or close the program itself. Also, if you are working online, the file may be currently in use by another user.
After deleting all files, an empty folder remains
In this case, try closing everything open source software or restart your computer and then delete the folder.
