Seeking Advice for Deleting a File that Won't Delete

Windows 10 Pro - Version 20H2 (OS Build 19042.928)

Howdy Folks,
I'm looking for the easiest way to delete a file that won't delete.

FWIW: this is an instructional video I downloaded for a new software I purchased: PDFelement Video Extension: .mkv (apparently it only plays embedded in Wondershare's website)

I've tried several methods with no luck. ... short of booting into Safe Mode or downloading special software just for this one issue.

TIA to all who read this and to those who reply.

Hello @jdUnionngarden,

[1] Have you tried to Force Delete it using CMD Prompt?
[2] So are you saying that it is an Embedded Video?
[3] What do the Propertiesshow?
[4] I know this sounds odd, but have you tried Zipping it and then Deleting it?

I just found this which might give you some ideas . . .

> How to Reduce PDF Size Manually

I hope this helps.

jdUnionngarden said:

Windows 10 Pro - Version 20H2 (OS Build 19042.928)

Howdy Folks,
I'm looking for the easiest way to delete a file that won't delete.

FWIW: this is an instructional video I downloaded for a new software I purchased: PDFelement Video Extension: .mkv (apparently it only plays embedded in Wondershare's website)

I've tried several methods with no luck. ... short of booting into Safe Mode or downloading special software just for this one issue.

TIA to all who read this and to those who reply.

Hi Jeff,

What is the complete path in Windows Explorer showing where the file is saved?

I use a program called UnLockIT from EMCO for changing file attributes and deleting. It's available in the right-click context menu, quite convenient.


Download - UnLock IT

Paul Black said:

Hello @jdUnionngarden,

[1] Have you tried to Force Delete it using CMD Prompt?
[2] So are you saying that it is an Embedded Video?
[3] What do the Propertiesshow?
[4] I know this sounds odd, but have you tried Zipping it and then Deleting it?

I just found this which might give you some ideas . . .

> How to Reduce PDF Size Manually

I hope this helps.

@Paul_Black
[1]



Edit: I think my syntax is wrong; note filename is: <Edit PDF Like Word with Wondershare PDFelement.mkv>
but this is wrong too (unless the long filename - or folder name - is an isssue):


[2] It was a video embedded on one of their tutorials. I downloaded it with Download Helper then found the unusual extension would only play audio on my VLC media player.

[3]

(BTW: the weird folder name - incl. "fraud" refers to an old eBay issue ; I just use it as a junk folder now).

[4] Not odd. I tried to add it to a .rar file checking 'delete original" but the process locked up ... however, after a reboot I had the .rar with a copy of the file contained within, but the original remains in the folder.
Thanks,

Navigate to D:\z Install Files\zxOffice, Misc Details Fraud 2013\Misc\ and type dir *.mkv
There's a space after dir then *.mkv together.

This will allow you to identify the correct file name. Then from that same \Misc subdirectory,
type del whateverthathugelongfilenameis.mkv + enter.

W10 Tweaker said:

Navigate to D:\z Install Files\zxOffice, Misc Details Fraud 2013\Misc\ and type dir *.mkv
There's a space after dir then *.mkv together.

This will allow you to identify the correct file name. Then from that same \Misc subdirectory,
type del whateverthathugelongfilenameis.mkv + enter.

Sounds great, but I'm not doing the right thing to navigate to that 'longfilename' folder:

jdUnionngarden said:

Sounds great, but I'm not doing the right thing to navigate to that 'longfilename' folder:

OOPs, sorry about that. I thought you knew how to get there.

From D:\ type cd + the massive long directory path and use a \ between each subdirectory with no spaces other than the spaces used in the subdirectory names. Also, there's a space after cd.

jdU,

You need to enclose paths & filenames that contain spaces or special characters within quotation marks.

For example,

Code:

Del "Z:\half a pound of tuppeny rice\half a pound of treacle.mkv"

or

Code:

CD /D "Z:\half a pound of tuppeny rice\"

Denis

jdUnionngarden said:

Sounds great, but I'm not doing the right thing to navigate to that 'longfilename' folder:

OOPs, sorry about that. I thought you knew how to get there.

From D:\ type 'cd + the massive long directory path' and use a \ between each subdirectory with no spaces other than the spaces used in the subdirectory names. Also, there's a space after cd.

If the path shown in post #4 is not known to you, you can search the next subdirectory name by typing dir.

So from D:\ type 'dir /p'
That will display one page at a time. Type control C when you've seen enough.

Is the path in this screenshot where the file exists and you know that each subdirectory name is precise?

W10 Tweaker said:

OOPs, sorry about that. I thought you knew how to get there.

From D:\ type cd + the massive long directory path and use a \ between each subdirectory with no spaces other than the spaces used in the subdirectory names. Also, there's a space after cd.

No, My Bad ... my eyes are going blurry trying all the various attempts and syntax ... but, it looks like the filename is as I've beeen using: