[BooNL]

Hey all,

I have a bit of a problem and I hope you guys can help me.

I can't delete .exe files anymore, this started a few weeks ago and nothing I've tried seems to help.

Everytime I try to delete a .exe it says the file is in use, while it clearly isn't (checked ctrl, alt, del).

So, does anyone have a clue? If you need more specifics I'll be glad to add them.

Thanks in advance.

[vipernet]

boot into safemode to remove them, that way they won't be running or being used.

[DaveA]

It also helps to let us know which one you are trying to delete and it's path!

[BooNL]

Thanks for that tip Vipernet, I'll try that later tonight. But that can't be the end all solution right? I don't fancy booting up safe mode everytime I have to delete a program...

Dave, it applies to every .exe file on my pc, regardless of it's path. It's not only deleting, but overwriting as well, like patching a game for instance, I can't.

I'm running a virus scan right now, maybe I've caught something. I'll check the forum later tonight.

Thanks so far.

[vipernet]

Shouldn't really just delete .exe files, normally want to use add/remove or uninstall option to remove a program.

But if you must, then ya safe mode would work. And if all your exe files are like that might be a ownership thing.

Take ownership of the file then try and remove.

[DaveA]

How did these "EXE file get put on the drive?

[vipernet]

EXE = executable file (a program) in the OpenVMS, DOS, Microsoft Windows, and OS/2 operating systems.

Lets say you install winamp. in the winamp DIR you will have a winamp.exe file to Start the program.

[BooNL]

exactly, say I want to uninstall Winamp. It'll delete everything except the .exe and I can't get rid of it.

How do I boot Vista in safe mode? The load screen goes too fast for me to see anything, it basically jumps from boot to Vista...

Thanks for the support this far, I appreciate it!

[DaveA]

You need to go to the Control Panel and select then Programs" "Uninstall a program" and then select the program that you want to uninstall.
The deleting will do nothing but mess up your machine. That is why Vista does NOT give you permission to just delete a program file.

[BooNL]

Ofcourse Dave and that's what I did in the first place. The problem is that it deletes everything except the .exe, so that's why I'm trying to delete them manualy.

EDIT: A bit of an update

My virusscanner hasn't found anything, so I can probably rule that out as a fault.

I can't seem to start Vista in safe mode (F8 on startup), I select safe mode and see the screen where it loads all the neccesary drivers, then it goes on to boot normally, so "safe mode" markers at the edge of the screen, just a regular boot.

When trying to find the safe mode startup I pressed F10, which seemed to be a startup command line, I don't know if any of you know about it.

Entered into the command line was

/NOEXECUTE=OPTIN

Looks kinda shifty to me, but I'm afraid to do anything with it, lest it crash my pc. Any of you know about this line and maybe how to turn in off?



Let me define the problem a bit clearer, it seems every .exe file on my pc is somehow Read Only and in constant use. Add/remove program, no luck. I tried giving myself all the rights and ownership of the file, no luck. Reboots, no luck. Changing .exe to something else hoping to fool Vista, no luck.

I have all the neccesary rights and Vista wants to delete the file, but I get a constant error that the program is in use. I've never run across this problem before, so I need all the help I can get.

Cheers