Corrupt File deletion... program?

[Bunce]

Came accross a small, ye very annoying problem at work.

Systems still working on Windows 95 and 98.

When tidying up the PC's ready for the new year of students, trying to delete files that are un needed... just for an example, deleting some old profiles from the windows>profiles path...
Says cant delete index.(file name can't remember what now) but saying its in use, not a detaild enough task manager showing processes like XP, but believe it isn't in use at all.

This occurs many times sometimes in many profiles, so in the end, unable to delete certain folders just because it believes its in use.

Is there a program at all, or an easy way to delete these files/folders.

Same with currupt files, that just dont / can't be deleted.

Anyone have any ideas on this one?

Not essential but just one of those annoying problems when trying to get your work done.

Thanks all.

[Anonymous]

Reboot the machine and press F8 to get the list of startup options. Select "Command Prompt only" (I think that is what it is called) and then delete the files you want to from the command line (you might need to use the ~ sign or else put the filename in quotes if it has a weird long name)

[Bunce]

i do know that way, agreed.

But, when i have 300-500 PC's that have the problem, with many folders and files, that... that is a mission...

so i was wondering if someone actually has managed to find away around the whole problem.

[suicidal_monkey]

what about removing the users from the admin panels or whatever in settings (so long since I saw 98/95 these may not exist...)

By removing them as users it should surely delete their profile files too? Or at least let you do it manually afterwards...

[Bunce]

HEHE Yes, true...

Once deleted in the Control Panel > Users section, i'm meant to be abel to do what i want with their user pofile folder... but this doesn't want to be the case for all of the folders.

[suicidal_monkey]

safe mode?
reinstall?
upgrade?
...or "delegate"

[Bunce]

hehe

I like the delegate one but i only have my pet desk monkey to pass it on to

[Anonymous]

MSBlast, MyDoom, Lovegate, Korgo, Netsky or Sobig may all give you the "opportunity" you need to blitz the machines  :devil:

[marsvolta]

dunno if its ex only, but in run type regedit, go to local machine, software, windows, version, run, and in there is a list of running programs... think regedit it xp only tho

[Bunce]

Thank you m8, it works on 98, so i'll have a stab see if it works with the old 95 machines.

Cheers