Cannot delete file on Windows? How to delete undeletable files and folders on Windows XP, Vista and 7? To be honest, I can live with a undeletable file or folder in my computer, however, if the file or folder is located on my desktop, then it is totally unacceptable.
If you’re getting the following messages, you’ll need a special tool to unlock and delete the specific files and folders.
- Cannot delete file: Access is denied
- There has been a sharing violation
- The source or destination file may be in use
- The file is in use by another program or user
- Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is not currently in use
Here is a almost complete list of freeware to force delete locked files and folders.
| Application | Close handle | Kill process | Unload DLL | Delete index.dat | Delete Rename Move | Invalid Names | Context Menu |
| Unlocker 1.8.7 by Cedrick Collomb |  | | | | | | |
| Process Explorer by Sysinternals | | | | | | | |
| ForceDel by Zoltan Csizmadia | | | | | | | |
| WhoLockMe by Dr-Hoiby | | | | | | | |
| FreeFile by Skrubbeltrang | | | | | | | |
| UnLock IT by EMCO | | | | | | | |
| APM by DiamondCS | | | | | | | |
| DelinvFile by James A. Lawler | | | | | | | |
| Pocket KillBox by Option^Explicit | | | | | | | |
| Copylock by Noel Danjou | | | | | | | |
| GiPo@MoveOnBoot by Gibin Software House | | | | | | | |
| DelLater by DiamondCS | | | | | | | |
| Delete Doctor by Kevin Solway | | | | | | | |
| BusyDelete by Freezerware | | | | | | | |
| Boot Deleter by TNT-BootBlock | | | | | | | |
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I don’t know why no one has left a comment here before… but I tried EVERYTHING to delete a crummy Acrobat folder that wes denying me my administrator rights! This worked and worked flawlessly… also so simple a newb like me can follow it easily. Highly recommended!!
Very very Effective…tanx for it….
Unlocker is very good and easy to use..
:D
Unlocker link needs to be repaired
I am trying to delete a user folder for a user who doesn’t exist on the system any longer.
NONE of the solutions listed above worked. I have not been able to unlock, rename or delete the folder. Only a windows media player process is using the folder.
Guess I’ll have to live with it, or take my HD to another computer to delete it.
this litle program can do it???…992 kb… yes can do it… thanks… thanks… thanks…
it really works for me .
thx…