How to Delete Files or Folders that Report Access Is Denied Errors

Close the open file

How to Delete Files or Folders that Report Access Is Denied Errors Picture 1

Close any open programs. The most common cause of this error is that the program is accessing the file you are trying to delete. For example, you try to delete a document that is open in Word, or try to delete a song that is currently playing.

How to Delete Files or Folders that Report Access Is Denied Errors Picture 2

Open "Task Manager." Press Ctrl+ Alt+ Deland select "Task Manager" from the menu. Click the "User Name" tab and look for the entries under your username. Most of these programs can be turned off without causing system errors.

How to Delete Files or Folders that Report Access Is Denied Errors Picture 3

Close programs that you know. You can do this by selecting them and clicking "End Process".

If you accidentally close a program that causes the system to become unstable, you can restart your computer to recover.

How to Delete Files or Folders that Report Access Is Denied Errors Picture 4

Restart the computer. Usually, restarting the computer can cause the program to no longer have anything to do with the file. Try deleting the file after completing the reboot and before opening any other programs. If the file still displays the error message, try the method below.

Run third-party programs

How to Delete Files or Folders that Report Access Is Denied Errors Picture 5

Search for progress unlocking program. Some popular programs include Process Explorer, LockHunter, Unlocker or Lock-UnMatic and Mac OS File Unlocker for Mac. All of these programs are free and integrated with the Windows interface. If you choose Unlocker, be careful when surfing their website because there are many bad ads that can cause your computer to be infected with malware.

How to Delete Files or Folders that Report Access Is Denied Errors Picture 6

Program setting. The entire program has a relatively simple installation. Just unzip the file if needed and open the Setup or Install file. Setting the default settings will usually work for most users.

Some programs may tempt you to install a web browser toolbar during the installation process. Make sure you don't select these if you don't have a need to use the new toolbars.

How to Delete Files or Folders that Report Access Is Denied Errors Picture 7

Right click on the file you want to delete. Select the newly installed tool from the menu. This is the operation to open a new window. A list will be displayed showing all the programs accessing the file.

How to Delete Files or Folders that Report Access Is Denied Errors Picture 8

Close the program. Select the program you want to close and click the "Kill Process" button. After all interfering programs are closed, you can delete files without any problems.

Use Command Prompt

How to Delete Files or Folders that Report Access Is Denied Errors Picture 9

Find the file storage location on your hard drive. If you don't know the file's storage location, you can try using the search option (Search). Click "Start menu" and type the name of the file into the search field. In Windows 8, you should type the name of the file on the Start screen.

How to Delete Files or Folders that Report Access Is Denied Errors Picture 10

Right click on the file and select "Properties." Remove (uncheck) all properties of a file or folder.

How to Delete Files or Folders that Report Access Is Denied Errors Picture 11

Record the location of the file. You will later need to find this location when you force delete a file in Command Prompt.

How to Delete Files or Folders that Report Access Is Denied Errors Picture 12

Open the Command Prompt window. You can do this by clicking Start and typing 'cmd' into the search field but without the quotes.

How to Delete Files or Folders that Report Access Is Denied Errors Picture 13

Close all open programs. Keep the Command Prompt window open, but close all other open programs.

How to Delete Files or Folders that Report Access Is Denied Errors Picture 14

Open the Task Manager window. You can do this by pressing Ctrl+ Alt+ Deland selecting "Task Manager" in the menu or by going to the Start menu, pressing "Run", then going to "TASKMGR.EXE".

How to Delete Files or Folders that Report Access Is Denied Errors Picture 15

Click the "Processes" tab of the Task Manager window. Look for the process named 'explorer.exe'. Select that process and click "End Process". Minimize but do not close Task Manager.

How to Delete Files or Folders that Report Access Is Denied Errors Picture 16

Return to the Command Prompt window. Here, you can force delete files or folders using a basic command line tool. Although both files and folders are deleted in almost the same way, there are slight differences in the command line you will use.

How to Delete Files or Folders that Report Access Is Denied Errors Picture 17

Search path: C:Documents and SettingsYour User Name>. This path will appear in Command Prompt.

How to Delete Files or Folders that Report Access Is Denied Errors Picture 18

Execute command. In the Command Prompt window, type cd My Documents after your username.

How to Delete Files or Folders that Report Access Is Denied Errors Picture 19

Delete files. After "My documents", type the delete command, followed by the name of the file you want to delete. For example: You can type "del unwanted file.exe".

How to Delete Files or Folders that Report Access Is Denied Errors Picture 20

Use the DEL command to delete stubborn files in the Command Prompt window. The complete command will look like this: C:Documents and SettingsYour User NameMy Documents>del unwantedfile.exe

How to Delete Files or Folders that Report Access Is Denied Errors Picture 21

Delete folder. If you want to delete a directory rather than a file, you can use the "RMDIR /S /Q" command instead of the "del" command. The command line will look like this: C:Documents and SettingsYour User Name>rmdir /s /q "C:Documents and SettingsYour User NameMy Documentsunwanted folder"

How to Delete Files or Folders that Report Access Is Denied Errors Picture 22

Press ALT+TAB. You will be returned to Task Manager where you can click File , select New Task and type "EXPLORER.EXE" to restart the Windows interface.

How to Delete Files or Folders that Report Access Is Denied Errors Picture 23

Close Task Manager. Now the file has been deleted, but you can check again by going to Start and typing in the search bar.

5 ★ | 2 Vote

May be interested

  • How to Restore CDs with ToothpastePhoto of How to Restore CDs with Toothpaste
    the invention of the cd was advertised as 'indestructible'. nowadays, not many people still believe that. while you can buy commercial cd repair kits to restore fragile discs, there's a simpler and more economical way: use toothpaste.
  • How to Upgrade Your Computer's ProcessorPhoto of How to Upgrade Your Computer's Processor
    this article shows you how to install a new processor on a windows computer. the microprocessor (cpu) plays an important role in the speed of the computer.
  • How to Apply Thermal PastePhoto of How to Apply Thermal Paste
    thermal control is a very important part of building and maintaining a computer. overheating can be a death sentence for sensitive components, especially when overclocking. and to cool the computer, first of all, you need to know how to apply thermal paste.
  • How to Test a PC Power SupplyPhoto of How to Test a PC Power Supply
    in the process of diagnosing problems on a computer, the power supply is often forgotten. however, checking the power supply first can help you shorten a lot of problems in troubleshooting. if your computer displays a blue screen of death (bsod: blue screen of death), has a faulty hard drive, or simply won't boot, you likely have a power supply problem. perform these quick checks below before purchasing any expensive new hardware.
  • How to Clean Up Your Computer and Fix Errors for FreePhoto of How to Clean Up Your Computer and Fix Errors for Free
    the longer you use your computer without maintenance, the slower it will run. if you've recently noticed that your computer is running much slower than before, or you want your old computer to run faster, there are a lot of things you can do. if the computer encounters an error or some other problem, the solution may be as simple as a reboot. if your computer is infected with adware, you can use a variety of programs to scan and remove the threats.
  • How to Determine Why Your Computer Won't StartPhoto of How to Determine Why Your Computer Won't Start
    surely everyone has had trouble with a computer refusing to boot. while it can be a sign of a serious hardware problem, it's usually just a simple problem that you can fix yourself. with some basic troubleshooting knowledge, in most cases you'll be able to solve your mac's startup problems as well as your windows computer.