A File I Just Can't Delete.

Scythe

<div class="IPBDescription">AutoPatcherXP_Apr04_UltraLite.exe</div> This file, "AutoPatcherXP_Apr04_UltraLite.exe", was a installer for a patch that contained many of the windows security updates. A kind of redistributable thing. I have forgotten exactly how it came to be on my desktop. Rest assured it isn't any kind of viral symptom.

Whenever I try to delete the said file I get a message along the lines of "You can't delete this file nub, it's already in use.". I have booted up in safe mode and tried from there to no avail.

Is there some kind of program that can tell me what process is trying to access this file so I can kill it and delete it? Could it be a windows service that is using it? Could I maybe create a bootable CD with an autoexec.bat that’s just “del c:\windows\users and settings\...\desktop\AutoPatcherXP_Apr04_UltraLite.exe”? (With the appropriate ~1 truncation of course.)

Any suggestions?

--Scythe--

Thansal

honestly, sounds like a virus <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->

try pulling up taskmanager and seeing if you can find it in the Processes tab.

then kill it from there.

albeit the fact that you couldn't kill it in safe mode is impressive.

Have you checked the flags on it?

BlueNovember

If it's set to read-only it should still just give you an added prompt.

Suggestions:
It can't be as it's running, as it's not effected by loading windows in safemode. (There's a possibility it has tightly integrated itself with explorer.exe or similar, but let's just hope that's not the case.)

Force delete with DOS would be a good idea. It could just be a random error on hard disc, and DOS can cope with this despite the fact windows can't. If not, Scan disc C:\ and cross fingers.

HTH

RaVe

If in doubt, go to Safe Mode, and delete the file. If it still doesn't work, use DOS or the command prompt like Blue said.

Toothy

He said in his post that he had tried safe mode, and if he's on XP then there is no Dos.

It doesn't sound like a proper windows file or patch, since I don't honestly think Microsoft would name any of their files with the word 'Ultralite' in.

Kalias

I use GiPo MoveOnBoot which allows "copying/moving/renaming/deleting files and folders on the next system boot."

<a href='http://www.gibinsoft.net/' target='_blank'>http://www.gibinsoft.net/</a>

Click on GiPo@FileUtilities > Download > and then scroll down to "Old Version (Freeware)" to acquire it, note it will add a couple of functions to your right click menu, but they disappear when you uninstall.

Scythe

/me huggles Kalias

--Scythe--

Axel_Stone

It happens sometimes on an NTFS partition, if you have XP pro reset the security permissions. I've had a few times due to the way it was written to the drive, chkdsk didnt fix the issue and had to format or use a filewiper to remove the file.

I dunno if I'm just resurecting an old thread that got fixed but not post. Hopefully this will help someone. Neowin's autopatcher is a "legitimate" program persay. Very usefull if your PC is on dialup but you need all the updates. You can goto a friends house and download it on thier cable. (http://www.neowin.net) Its under thier "branded software" section of the forums.

Scythe

Yeah, kalias' program fixed my problem, but thanks anyhoo.

--Scythe--