Page 2 - Unable to Delete a File of zero size!

The file does not show up in the desktop dir, although there are a couple of entries with no name.

Sounds like there may be a rootkit afoot, try rootkit revealer from http://sysinternals.com.

First though, In Tools->Folder Options->View->'Hide Extensions for known File Types' - is this checked?

Still didn't work by any of the methods listed. Move on Boot gave me some complicated error message during shutdown and then timed out. File still there on reboot. I was only half serious about the "eraser", but there is zero size to the file, the computer doesn't know it exists, and only the file icon is displayed. I can't even move it to an empty folder on the desktop.

I can change the icon by changing the program to use to try open it. If only I could make it invisible or change the icon to a cute half naked pinup!

Try running scandisk or chkdsk

It was checked. I un-checked it and no extension is shown on that particular file, just the name followed by a dot.

Have you tried booting the machine in Safe Mode and then trying to delete it either by Windows or the command prompt ?

Yep! Message was still couldn't find the file.

So the message has changed from Cannot Delete file to Can't find file ? Strange.

Can you run HijackThis and post it's log on here for us to look at ?

I have seen this caused by a couple of different things.

1. The FAT has it listed as a file, but in name and location only. This often happens at other times when you go to delete a file, it gets deleted but still appears. You get the error because when it goes to where the FAT says it is to delete it, the file isn't actually there. So its like having a shortcut to something, then deleting that something. You won't be able to move or delete it from Windows. FIX: If you have a floppy drive (or heck a CD drive) boot off a disk to a DOS prompt. Then delete the file from there.

2. There is an incomplete registry entry. The theory behind it is partly related to #1, but the issue is in the Windows registry instead. During testing I had once been able to make an icon on the desktop (or anywhere) appear, but have no association to anything. When this happens you can't do anything with it at all except move it around. Can't copy it or anything. FIX: Check the registry for the name of the shortcut *.lnk and see if you find it in there.

It also may be caused by a failing or faulty FAT, a bad sector (defrag MAY fix) or a corrupt profile. If worse comes to worse, rebuild your profile.

(Oo;?(What do you mean by entries "no name" or "name with dot" in details.?)

Take a snapshot if possible.

iconcache.db is here:

%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data

or search by "*.db".

Though it depends on your description, 0Kbyte file can't contain icon or can't be even a shortcut. Accordingly, it should not be an entity.

Message hasn't really changed. Cannot delete file because it can't find it. i. e., "Cannot Delete File: Cannot read from source file or disk" in so many words.

I'm tired tonight. Just got back from seeing our first Great Grandson this afternoon. Will try the HijackThis tomorrow. I am not really a computer whiz yet (and probably never will be at my age) but not afraid of them (computers that is, not the whiz geeks). Self taught all the way bact to the original Fortrans

(^^;?(As weird icon and undeletable file are another matters, HJT and Rootkit revealer doesn't harm.)

"Cannot Delete File: Cannot read from source file or disk" translates as follows:

"Oh, I see, the name is surely in the beadroll." "Sorry Sir, I went to the room. But no one is there, surely registered, though."

It's like a book consisted of index and contents pages only. It exists in master file table and file index, but not on the actual disk area. The standard issue is described here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/303079/EN-US/

So that, I'm asking you exact name of file and information. How many files are there? How many icons are there. What about their property? When was the last accessed date? Whom do they belong to, Adminstrator?

Even virus can't ignore the rule of Windows at all. We can make null file of text, and it represent text icon via association of notepad. If it has "." extention, try to make any file with no extention. Does it show the said icon?

I just mean there is no file extension identified.

"So that, I'm asking you exact name of file and information."

CAAZMZ2X.

"How many files are there?"

One

"How many icons are there."

One, but I can change the icon image by renaming and giving it an extension.

"What about their property?"

Type of file: file
Opens with: (Blank)
Location: C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Desktop
Size: 0 bytes
Size on disk: 0 bytes
Created: (Blank)
Modified: (Blank)
Accessed: (Blank)
Attributes: Read only (not checked), Hidden (not checked).

"When was the last accessed date?"

Hovering the arrow over the file icon after selection, I get a note box that says:

Type: File
Date Modified: 3/24/2005 10:47 AM
Size: 0 Bytes

"Whom do they belong to, Adminstrator?"

I am the administrator and only user.

"Even virus can't ignore the rule of Windows at all. We can make null file of text, and it represent text icon via association of notepad. If it has "." extention, try to make any file with no extention. Does it show the said icon?"

Yes. I seem to recall the original extension was .jpg

Can you rename the file ? Can you move it to another directory, e.g. root rather than the desktop ?