Hardware and software setup

Can't delete file from laptop. There is no easier action than how to delete a file that is not deleted! What to do with system files

Unfortunately, it often happens that a Windows user needs to rename or delete any files and folders, and the system suddenly starts to issue error messages 0x80070490 “Element not found” for no reason (for example, regarding certificates) , although the user is sure that this information is available. Let's figure out what to do in such a situation.

Circumstances when the error "Could not find this element. It is no longer in... (file path). Check file location"

Yes, indeed, such an error followed by a warning can occur very often. The simplest situation is too long file names inside folders, when the system writes that it is impossible to move, copy, or rename such a folder.

And it is after this that the message of interest to us appears that this element could not be found. How to remove leftovers? After all, it is clear that when copying, moving or deleting, the system nevertheless initially made such an attempt. Another thing is that it was not successful, which led to problems.

It turns out that in fact the folder or files are present on the disk, the system no longer recognizes them in the initial version. In addition, the message "Item not found" may appear when any files or folders are locked by system processes (used in this moment), say, anti-virus software or the same "Explorer" (Explorer service).

Sometimes the situation may be different. For example, an attempt to delete, rename, or move may fail when you are not logged on as an administrator, but on behalf of another user with limited rights. Probably, there is no need to explain that a file with system attributes cannot be deleted, as well as documents created using administrator rights in the main account. This is where the message "Could not find this item" pops up. How to delete such files, we will now figure it out.

In addition, it is also worth noting that such errors can occur after renaming, say, office documents. Programs, as a rule, remember the last few files, so when using the quick opening of one of them, unpleasant situations can also arise when the application simply does not find the file you are looking for in the specified path.

The simplest way to fix a bug

First of all, every user should know that even having administrator rights is not always a guarantee of successful deletion, renaming or moving of locked files, since some files and folders of a system nature have long names. And only elements with short names that are usually inaccessible to the user are subject to deletion.

On the other hand, you can use the simplest method, which is to add some entries to the system registry. For example, the files FolderDescription-x86.reg (for 32-bit versions of Windows OS) and FolderDescription-x64.reg (for Windows versions with 64 bit architecture). If there are no such files on the computer terminal (and this, as a rule, they are), they can be easily downloaded from the Internet. Don't worry, nothing terrible will happen, but you can be guaranteed to get rid of the "Unable to find this element" error. How to delete files after that? Standard way. Only and everything.

Remains of "garbage" after uninstalling applications

In some cases, an error may appear when an incomplete Windows tool The InstallShield Wizard does not completely remove all components, prompting the user to remove some files manually. Very often this concerns the uninstall.exe uninstaller itself.

In this case, a message may also be displayed stating that the element was not found. correctly and completely, so as not to remain unnecessary garbage in the system in the form residual files Or registry keys? Very simple: it is better to use uninstallers like iObit Uninstaller, which remove absolutely all software components, as well as entries and keys system registry, which cannot be removed by the usual method (Forced Uninstall).

Yes, and rummaging through the registry in manual mode, too, do not want to. Moreover, this is undesirable.

Additional ways to remove stubborn files

Among the most common methods for deleting undeletable files and folders, one can note the use of special utility Unlocker, as well as direct removal of elements with system attributes using a short name. In principle, both methods are good. However, the average user will have to tinker a bit with the names.

Program Unlocker

The Unlocker application is a universal option for solving many incidental situations. In fact, the program is a kind of means of unlocking access to any element of the system, after which it will be possible to perform the necessary actions.

As a rule, the program itself is already included in the Windows 7 OS. If it is not on the computer, it can be easily found and downloaded from the Internet.

When you enter the same standard "Explorer" Windows, the corresponding command "Unlock all" will appear. The application will stop all processes associated with a particular file, after which it can be deleted or renamed without any problems. You can, of course, end related processes in the "Task Manager", but it's just not recommended to do this, because one process can be responsible for the operation of several programs and use many files (for example, dynamic libraries.dll). And the correct completion of the process in this case is not guaranteed.

Deleting files and folders with system names

A slightly more complicated method, but no less effective, is to use short file and folder names. Suppose, during operations with a system file, an error occurs due to the fact that this element could not be found. How to remove it using this method, we will try to figure it out.

First of all, to uninstall, you will need to use either the Run menu. Let's say we have a file named "111" located in the Program Files folder on the C drive. The delete command will look like this: DEL \\.\C:\Program Files\111. For a folder named "111" located at the same address, the command takes the form RD \\.\C:\Program Files\111.

This method may not work when you need to know the short name of a file or folder. In this case, after starting the command line (cmd.exe), you must first execute the line CD drive letter:\path to file or folder\ /d, and then to get a short name - the DIR /X /N command. After the required name is known, the folder or file can be deleted as described above.

It happens that you just 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 "the 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 trash" that only takes up space, and Windows swears and does not allow.In general, it is not so important Why can't you delete, how 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 deleted files 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 disk, take up space, are not opened and are not deleted.

The file may not be deleted due to a failure that occurred during its recording or overwriting. If you interrupted the recording process, then the file was not completely saved, resulting in invalid entries in file system. And our beloved Winda, not knowing how to handle it, simply simply closes access to it, such as for security purposes.

So, let's start dancing with a tambourine!

Why is the file not being deleted?

1) The file was blocked by an antivirus program. Often this happens when the antivirus quarantines the file. Or the antivirus detected malware, but the treatment was delayed (waiting to update its databases). In this case, in order to avoid infecting the computer, the user is blocked from accessing this file. Check Quarantine 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. Consider what programs can be used given file. Close them and try deleting the file again. If this does not help, use the Task Manager to check the list of processes, the program may still be running.

3) Administrator rights are required to delete a file. If you are using a user account, log in again as an administrator and try deleting 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 in use 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 ways to remove, I will start with the simplest and most effective and gradually move on to more complex ones.

1. Way:

Reboot

We programmers have a saying - "7 troubles - one reset". What does it mean you can guess

But the meaning of the method is that you need to restart your computer and try to delete the file / folder again.

2. Method:

Safe mode

You need to log in in safe mode.

What is the advantage 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 not excluded), then in this safe mode it will not perform any actions. In this mode, there is nothing superfluous, only a clean AXIS 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 press the key intensively from the very beginning of loading the "black screen") 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 Options boot, and there is already Safe Mode (well, or just Safe Mode, you don’t need to choose all sorts of things there With command line support and so on. And so it will do) and press Enter. If you did everything correctly, the system will boot up and in the lower right corner there will be an inscription Safe mode (it can still be in all corners). Do not be afraid of the black screen that will appear) without wallpaper and beauty.

Now you need to find the file that you just could not delete and try to delete it. In any case (it turned out or not), reboot.

3. Way:

Through the program Unlocker

That's it for such purposes, good uncles wrote such a program, called Unlocker. It's very small free program to unlock files running in Windows. This utility allows you to close open file locks, thus 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 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.

During installation, DO NOT agree to the proposed toolbar (well, or you really need it, then click Next) and uncheck Install Babylon Toolbar - RECOMMENDED. And the rest of the installation is normal - everywhere Further I accept Install and everything)

Just right click on a file that is not 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 locked, another window will appear. In it, you must first click on the button Unlock everything, and then Delete.

For those who do not know what bit depth is on the system - we read

4. Method:

Through file managers

Of all the most popular and commonly 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-removable file, we need to download one of these file managers, FAR or Total Commander (I use Total Commander Podarok Edition). After downloading and installing, find your file in the list of directories and delete it by clicking either the right mouse button and selecting Delete, or the Delete key on the keyboard.

Also, these managers have good opportunity- see everything that is hidden and encrypted (especially in different colors, like mine). If you do not delete the folder, then go into it through the manager and see what's there. If you see a hidden file, it means that it interferes. Then launch Task Manager ctrl+shift+esc), go to the Processes tab and look for this file in the list (it’s good to click on the button at the bottom left of the dispatcher Display processes of all users), find and complete (del or RMB -> End process or end process button in the lower right corner). With files, the same application, we are looking for the file name and "kill".

5. Way:

Another option with Unlocker

If the folder is not deleted from you, it writes something like "the folder is not empty", then we create new folder on the same drive, transfer non-deleted folders to a new folder, delete the new folder using Unlocker

6. Method:

With autoload

Click Start => Run => In the Run box, type msconfig => Click OK. You will see the System Setup window. Go to the "Startup" tab and in the list of downloaded items, find a name similar to your "non-removable" 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 only take effect after the computer is restarted. Click the "Reboot" button. The computer will restart. After downloading, try deleting the "non-removable" file again.

7. Method:

Using System Restore

In the "System Settings" window (which was the same as in the previous paragraph), select the "General" item. Click on the "Start System Restore" button. In the window that appears, select the item "Restore an earlier state of the computer", click "Next". In a new window, you will see a calendar where you can select the date for system restore. Select a date when the "non-removable" file was not on the computer. Click "Next". Don't worry, System Restore won't affect your personal files.

8. Method:

Lack of permissions to delete files

Click right click 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 access»

- "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 a different 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 format it later.

11. Method:

In the window, type the command chkdsk c: / f / r and click Enter, while keeping in mind that c: is the name of the drive to be checked. If the disk being checked has a different letter, then write it.

If the checked drive is C:, then when you click Enter You will be prompted to check it the next time you reboot. When asked whether to check or not on the next reboot, type Y and press Enter.

If the disk name is different, then the check will start immediately. At the end of the test, the result of the test will appear. Type exit and click Enter.

Now you can delete the file that you didn't want to delete. In the case of drive C, just restart the computer and after checking, delete the non-removable file.

12. Way:

In the case of opening the command line through Start - All Programs ... run the process as an administrator (RMB and Run as Administrator) and move to the folder with the file (or folder) that cannot be deleted using the cd \ command in order to end up in the root directory drive, and then cd folder_name to go to the desired folder.

In the process of working at a computer, a huge amount of unnecessary information accumulates, which reduces PC performance, clogging RAM. It must be removed. Quite often, due to failure operating system, virus attack, the presence of hidden or system files, access blocking and a number of other reasons, when deleting an object, a message appears that the folder is not being deleted. What to do in this case? There are several ways to help solve this problem.

Restarting the computer

Operating system failure is often the reason why empty folder is not removed. In this case, a normal restart of the computer is enough - and the object can be deleted. If the reboot did not help, you will need:

Start your computer in safe mode.
. Delete the problematic folder.
. Return to normal mode.

Deleting folders involved in one of the running processes

If the folder or the file contained in it is involved in any system process or are used by the application, they cannot be deleted. First of all, you need to stop the process and only after that try to delete the directory again.

To do this, follow these steps:

Open the task manager with the key combination Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
. Switch to the Processes tab.
. Find in the list that appears desired file.
. Select it with the mouse.
. Click on the "End Process" button.
. Delete the folder via the context menu or the Delete key.

How to delete a protected folder in a standard way

In some cases, the folder is protected and the user must have administrative rights to delete it. For this you need:

Shut down the computer.
. Turn on PC.
. Log in as administrator.
. Delete the folder in the usual way.

Unlocker utility and its features

If this method does not help to solve the problem of how to delete a folder that cannot be deleted, then you will need to install an additional Unlocker utility. This handy program for deleting various objects, occupying a small amount of memory hard drive and with an easy-to-use interface. Plus, it's completely free.

You can unlock and delete a folder using this utility as follows:

  • Download the utility to your computer.
  • Follow the standard installation procedure software, after which the program icon will appear in the system tray and in the context menu.
  • Select the folder to be deleted.
  • Click on it with the right mouse button.
  • In the pop-up menu, select Unlocker.
  • The program window will open.
  • At the bottom of the list of actions, select the line "Delete".
  • If the folder is locked by some process (it will be highlighted in the program window), first click on the "Unlock" or "Unlock all" line, and then apply the "Delete" action.

Unlocker may not always be able to remove an object immediately. In this case, a message will be displayed that the action will be performed at the next system boot.

Deleting a folder via command line

In the event that a folder with a system name is not deleted, the command line can help. First you need to run the CMD program:

  • Click on the "Start" button.
  • Find the "Run" dialog box using search string main menu.
  • Launch the Run program.
  • In the "Open" line, enter the cmd command.
  • Launch the command line by pressing the Enter button.

To delete folders, use the command "RD \\.\Drive C or D:\Path\Folder name".

Sometimes when using this command, the question may arise as to why the folder is not deleted. For an object that has a long name, it is necessary to know its short designation before deleting it. You can do this in the following way:

  • Navigate to the drive containing the non-removable folder with the command: cd /d drivename:\.
  • Get a list of short names of objects contained on the disk: dir /x /n.
  • Find the short name of the desired folder.
  • Delete a directory using the delete command.

Ending the explorer.exe process

Sometimes, in order to solve the problem of how to delete a folder that cannot be deleted, it is required to stop the explorer.exe process. For this you need:

  • Leave open command line.
  • Launch Task Manager by selecting this action in the pop-up menu on the system tray.
  • In the "Processes" tab, find all processes with the name explorer.exe.
  • Stop them by clicking on the "End Process" button.
  • If everything is done correctly, the desktop will be cleared of icons, the taskbar, only opened window command line.

After that, you can start deleting the object through the command line. The explorer command will help return the desktop to its previous state, which should be entered into the command line and press the Enter key. You can also restore the desktop by simply restarting the computer.

FileASSASSIN folder remover

The FileASSASSIN utility will help you delete any object, including those occupied by any process or application. Its working principle is similar to Unlocker program. To use this utility, you must:

  • Download and install it on your computer.
  • After installation, the program is integrated into the "Explorer" and becomes available in the context menu.
  • To delete a folder, right-click on it.
  • In the menu, find the item FileASSASSIN.
  • Select a deletion method from the list provided.
  • Click on the "Execute" button.

Removing undeletable objects with LockHunter

The LockHunter utility allows you to clear the computer's memory of unnecessary objects and solve the problem of how to delete a non-deleted folder. Unlike other similar software, it is equipped with functionality that can protect the operating system and user data from misuse. In addition, deleted objects are stored in the system recycle bin for some time, and if they are deleted by mistake, they can always be restored.

The LockHunter program works as follows:

  • After installation, you need to launch the utility by double-clicking on the icon on the desktop.
  • The main program window will open.
  • Find the button in the form of an ellipsis and click on it.
  • In the window that appears, select the desired folder.
  • The program will show the process that prevents the object from being deleted.
  • Click on the button with the red cross.
  • The process will be completed.
  • Delete the folder in the usual way.

Restoring access to a folder

Sometimes the reason why a folder is not deleted is that access to it is closed. You can restore access to the desired object as follows:

  • Change access rights settings - for this you first need to go to the "My Computer" section.
  • In the top menu, click on the "Service" subsection.
  • Find the "Folder Options" block and open it.
  • In the "View" tab, uncheck the checkbox opposite the "Use simple general access files (recommended)".
  • Press the "OK" button.
  • Then right-click on the folder you want to delete.
  • In the functional menu, select the "Sharing and Security" item.
  • Switch to the "Security" tab.
  • If you receive a warning about the lack of rights, click the "OK" button.
  • In the "Security" tab at the bottom, click on the "Advanced" button.
  • In the advanced options window, find the "Owner" tab.
  • Select the one you need from the list account.
  • Check the box next to the line "Replace the owner of subcontainers and objects".
  • Press the "Apply" button.
  • A warning about the change of ownership will appear.
  • Allow changes by clicking the "Yes" button.
  • Go to the "Permissions" tab.
  • Click on the "Change Permissions" line.
  • In the window that opens, select the owner account and click the "Change" button.
  • Check the box next to "Full access" and click the "OK" button.
  • In the next window, check the boxes next to the lines “Add permissions inherited from parent objects” and “Replace all permissions of a child object with permissions inherited from this object”.
  • Confirm the changes with the "OK" button.
  • Close all windows.
  • Delete a folder using the "Delete" function in the context menu or the Delete key.

Deleting an object with a bat-file command

If the folder that appears again is not deleted, you must create a bat file and eliminate the directory by running it. This will require the following steps:

  • Right-click on an empty spot on the desktop.
  • In the pop-up menu, select the "Create" function and the item "Text Document".
  • Open document.
  • Enter the command into it: RMDIR /S/Q Path to the folder of the form C:\folder name.
  • In the top menu, go to the "File" section.
  • Click on the "Save As" line.
  • Set the file name to "1.bat" and click the "Save" button.
  • Run the created bat-file - and the folder will be deleted.

Using the Total Commander File Manager

You can permanently delete a folder using the Total Commander program. For this you need:

  • Launch file manager.
  • Select a non-removable folder.
  • Press the "F8" key.
  • In the message that appears, click on the "Delete" button.

Folder not deleted? What to do? There are many ways to solve this problem. The choice of deletion method depends on the type of folder and the reasons that do not allow you to clean your computer of unnecessary objects.

Removing a file from the operating room Windows systems- it looks simple and easy. But under certain circumstances, this task can turn into a certain problem for the user. After all, if the file is used by other applications and processes, if the OS accesses it, if it is blocked by a virus, standard procedure cleaning no longer has an effect on it. And in this case, you need to use other computer software mechanisms, as well as special applications, which remove objects that are not removed.

Deleting files from your computer manually

Situation number 1: the audio file is not deleted

Pay attention to the OS message (i.e. for what reason the file is not deleted). Most likely it is played or opened in a media player. If so, delete the track from the playlist, close the application. And then drag it to the Trash.

Situation #2: Impossible to remove video, disk image or installer

The reason for the refusal may be hidden in the program with which you downloaded these files from the Internet. For example, the uTorrent torrent client constantly accesses downloaded files and folders in order to distribute them to other network members. Check if the file is in it. If one is found, disable it or completely close uTorrent. And then proceed with the removal.

Situation #3: A file is locked by a process

Even if the application is closed, the process accessing it or being part of it may still be active. In this case, it will block uninstallation or direct removal. To force it to stop, do the following:

  1. Press "CTRL" + "SHIFT" + "ESC" at the same time.
  2. Click on the Processes tab.
  3. Right-click on the process associated with the file that is not being deleted.
  4. From the context menu, select "End Process" to forcibly deactivate it.
  5. Close the Dispatcher window.

Removing undeletable files through software

A tiny utility (slightly more than 1 MB). After installation, it is integrated into the context menu of the system. Does not contain advanced settings. Automatically releases software locks from the selected object, be it a folder or a file. Also supports "move" and "rename" functions.

  1. Run the utility (its icon will appear in the tray).
  2. Right click on the file you want to delete.
  3. Select Unlocker from the menu list.

Note. Sometimes, when using the utility, a system restart is required (for example, during the removal of dynamic libraries.dll).

Free tool to neutralize "problem" files. Able to remove the lock from several elements at the same time. Performs cleanup correctly: preserves system stability and useful data. Equipped clear interface, does not contain complex settings.

  1. In the utility window, click the "Add" button.
  2. In the additional window " Browse files ..."Select a folder or file. Click OK.
  3. Under the top block of the working window, on the button, click the down arrow. From the drop-down menu, select Unblock and Delete.
  4. Confirm the action: click "Ok" in the prompt "Continue?".

Smart cleaner of "stubborn" files. Displays items that prevent deletion. Able not only to stop, but also to remove the blocking process. All neutralized objects are placed in the "Basket".

  1. In the program interface, click the "three dots" button. Choose:
    • "Browse for a file" - to delete a file;
    • "... a folder" - for a folder.
  2. 2. In the "Open" window, select the object to be removed from the directory.
  3. 3. Click the "Open" button.
  4. 4. To clean up, click "Delete It!" (button in the bottom panel).

Powerful utility. Distributed for free. Knows how to remove system files and items third party applications. Sets the reason for the blocking and neutralizes it when the messages "Access denied", "... write-protected", "... used by another program", etc. Unload modules, descriptors and other " program obstacles».

  1. Click the "..." button on the application bar.
  2. Click once with the left button on the file or folder that you want to remove from the OS.
  3. Click the "Open" button.
  4. Click "Execute" to activate the cleaning.

What to do with system files?

Some files, OS folders cannot be deleted either by regular means or special programs. They are protected from erasure by special functions. Others, on the other hand, are temporary.

To correctly remove Windows items, do the following:

First of all, determine the status of the file: can the system work without it or not. This can be done on special services (for example, filecheck.ru).

Temporary files (or "digital garbage") can be safely deleted with third-party utilities (for example, folders and libraries from Temp folders). But it is better not to touch the "vital" elements. In case of urgent need, it is better to replace them with similar ones using the restore function, installing special patches, or manually copying them to a directory.

Let your computer always be clean and tidy! And the question "why is the folder not being deleted?" will lose relevance for you.

Due to incorrect work of users or a failure in the process of recording and rewriting documents, locked or damaged folders and files may appear. They take up a certain amount of space on your hard drive, and they cannot be opened, renamed, or deleted.

When you delete locked folders, you receive a system warning that they are not accessible or are being used by another program. There are several ways to try to delete a folder if it is not deleted, depending on the reason for the blocking.

Quick article navigation

Causes

It may not be possible to delete a folder due to a number of reasons:

  • Antivirus blocking;
  • Lack of administrator rights;
  • Use of the folder (or files contained in it) by another program or user of the local network;
  • The folder is involved in the system;
  • In the settings, the write protection and deletion option is enabled.

Folder settings

Changing the folder settings will help you delete it. This will require:

  • Select a folder;
  • Right-click to call the context menu;
  • Go to the "Properties" section and the "Service" subsection;
  • Open the "View" tab;
  • Uncheck the box next to "Use simple file sharing" and click "OK";
  • Go to the "Security" tab and click on the "Advanced" field;
  • Uncheck all checkboxes for reading and execution;
  • Confirm the changes with the "OK" button;
  • Try deleting the folder.

Restarting the system can help delete the folder (in this case, possible tasks that use the folder, blocking access to it, will be removed). For this you need:

  • To restart a computer;
  • Try deleting the folder again.

"Safe mode"

If you cannot delete the folder in the normal mode of the operating system, you can try to perform this action in Safe Mode. For this you need:

  • Turn on the computer;
  • When loading, press the "F8" key several times;
  • In the menu that opens, find the section "Additional download options";
  • Select the "Safe Mode" item and press the "Enter" button (the system will start in safe mode);
  • Find an unnecessary folder and right-click on it;
  • Through the context menu, select the "Delete" command and confirm the deletion.

Total Commander

The Total Commander file manager allows you to see hidden and encrypted information in folders that cannot be opened or deleted from Windows. For this you need:

  • Download Total program Commander from the official website of the developer (ghisler.com/download.htm);
  • In the Total Commander window, find an unnecessary folder in the list of directories and try to delete it through the context menu (or by pressing the "Delete" key);
  • If the folder is not deleted, then go into it;
  • Upon detection hidden file launch the task manager through the key combination "Ctrl + Shift + Esc";
  • Go to the "Processes" tab;
  • Find and highlight a hidden file;
  • Press the "End Process" button;
  • Try to delete the folder through Total Commander again.

Unlocker

The Unlocker program allows you to perform various actions with locked folders (move, rename, merge and delete). This will require:

  • Download and install the utility on your computer (emptyloop.com/unlocker/);
  • Right-click on the desired folder;
  • Listed context menu select the line "Unlocker" (load the program window).

In the upper part, all processes working with an unnecessary folder and its files will be registered. You need to end the processes through:

  • "Task Manager" (called by right-clicking on the "Start" panel (not on the button itself, but on an empty space on the panel) and selecting the corresponding item in the list that appears);
  • Or in Unlocker itself by clicking on the "Unlock All" button.

Then it remains in the bottom line of the program to select the action "Delete" and confirm the deletion.

You can also try to delete the folder using the section: “Start” -> “Programs” -> “Startup” (if there is any file in the list that is in an unnecessary folder, this means that it is its loading at system startup that prevents the folder from being deleted) or through system restore (if you have previously created a Windows restore point).

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