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Best Free Undeletable File Remover
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In a Hurry?
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 Go straight to the Quick Selection Guide |
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Introduction
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Isn't it really frustrating if you want to delete a file or a folder but the system doesn't allow you to do so? Instead, the system just greets you with either one of these error messages:
Any solutions? Give these undeletable file removers a try and you might find them helpful to unlock a file, terminate the processes using the file or remove file-access restrictions that prevent you from deleting, renaming or moving a file. |
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Discussion
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Simply right-click a file or folder which is locked, select Unlocker in the context menu, you will see the processes or programs that are locking the file or folder, then choose to kill or unlock the processes, with an optional action such as delete, rename, move or copy, available in a clean and simple user interface. This program comes with an Unlocker Assistant which stays in the system tray and automatically launches if you are trying to delete, rename, or move a file that is locked. When this program was uploaded to VirusTotal for a scan, it showed a result of 2/42. This could be false positives as the developer highlighted this issue in the FAQ. In the current version, the developer added an optional shortcut to a Bing or Quickstores toolbar but you can simply untick it during installation. Unlocker is available in 32 and 64 bit versions and also as a portable. |
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You can access the program from the right-click context menu item What's locking this file? or launch the program separately, but you cannot run it from a command line. From the program user interface, the user can click a button to unlock or delete a file or folder, or close locking processes. Unloading DLLs, deleting locked index.dat and removing files with a reboot were found not supported. This program is in beta but it worked quite well when I tested it. But use it with care as advised by the developer. |
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When accessing from the context menu, you will see two menu items listed—Delete file using FileASSASSIN and Unlock file using FileASSASSIN. The methods of file processing available to the program include unlock locked file handles, unload modules, terminate a file's processes and/or delete a file with or without a reboot. Using FileASSASSIN to delete a locked file needs to be cautious as the file will be directly removed from your system. This is unlike both Unlocker and LockHunter where they keep a deleted file temporarily in the Recycle Bin, allowing for the user to restore it in the event that it was accidentally deleted. |
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Freeware products reviewed but not recommended:
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Related Products and Links
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Editor
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| This software category is in need of an editor. If you are interested in taking it over then check out this page for more details. You can then contact us from that page or by clicking here. |
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Tags
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delete file, clean file, remove file, unlock file, kill processes, delete locked file, delete locked folder. |
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Comments
Lockhunter doesn't work for me on Win7, Unlocker ALWAYS works for me thankfully :)
download lockhunter software... itz d best
superb sir Thankz a lot ...its awesome
Personnaly I use unlocker for years and I never found malwares in it, nor have problems either xp or vista or win7.
This kind of tools internally use (and have to use) some system hacks, and some anti-malwares applications are suspicious about that.
I Just Installed and uninstalled unlocker and it changed my clock to military time and malwarebytes has already found 42 ojects on a previously clean system. STAY AWAY FROM THIS!!!!!!!!!!! Malware ridden program
Stay away from the Warez and the Torrent sites and you won't have that problem. When I started using it, MalwareBytes came up clean. I've been using it for 3+ years w/ no problems.
The program will offer to install potentially unwanted material (toolbar) and make system changes but these are clearly stated in our review and can be opted out of during the installation. If indeed the computer referenced did contain malware, then it was not from this source.
https://www.virustotal.com/file/e9f401e0359c6c11459b374ecd6ccd802bebd22e...
VirusTotal gave back 1/42 detection, which can be safely ignored. https://www.virustotal.com/file/e6062e3f5cb60f73f75dbd640450cb1d8ad116b0... . Unlocker is only an adware program.
I just ran the 32 bit and the 64 bit installation files through Jotti.com (VirusTotal appears to be down). Both files came back totally clean according to Jotti!
Unlocker's website is blocked by ClearCloud DNS
Updated: Links to Unlocker's homepage and download page, and some product details.
Unlocker had a 64-bit version for quite a while now.
Most site owners/managers/webmasters deny this, but Unlocker is loaded with malware/adware. Over the last few years, I've had my anti-malware software trigger an alert when I either visited the site or installed the software. It's been intermittant, so I would accept all the responses that I got saying it was a false-positive and that the person I reported it to hadn't experienced any problems.
DO YOU BELIEVE IT! There's something fishy with UNLOCKER! Just today (3/20/2011) my Microsoft Security Essentials has warned me twice already that the following programs had been detected to delivering potential unwanted advertisements using "Adware:Win32/OpenCandy":
Unlocker1.9.0-x64.exe
Unlocker1.9.0.exe
(both the 32 and 64 bit versions).
Granted, it's not a serious threat, but a threat none-the-less! I wish I could upload a snapshot of the history item from my Security Essentials.
RiteGuy
Here is the virus total scan: https://www.virustotal.com/file/19c975dac068e803d72626bb5d44169ca07660810f091ed32683b78455bc69a9/analysis/
Nod32 was the only thing that said an unwanted toolbar was included, which it is, and you opt out.
I have been using Unlocker for years now. I really couldn't get by without it, especially with Microsoft's increasing clamp on user control with each new OS. I wouldn't be able to deal with Win7 x64 otherwise. That would be a shame too, because I do love the performance and stability.
That's unrelated to my comment.
I just checked this article again, because it appears to be updated, but clearly not enough. This false sentence is still not corrected (along with Quick Selection): A portable version of this program is available but a 64-bit version has yet to be developed.
It won't be regularly updated until a new volunteer editor can be assigned to the article.
[Update: no OC in the latest version 1.9.1] OpenCandy is sort of an adware. Unlocker had become fishy sometime ago, when it started to install an Ebay shortcut in its Program Files folder, without user knowing about it. But, this changed, after people raised objections. Now, they are being open about it, and now allow the user to opt-out of it, by giving option in the setup. Apart from Ebay, they also include Bing Toolbar. They are playing it with multiple software, to get revenue in.
Nowadays, increasing number of free software are being shipped with such extras in their installers. It is therefore, very necessary to be careful while installing any software. One mistake, and you will end up with a third party software on your system.
these programs did not work for me. (but I didn't try file assassin yet)
I had success with Comodo System Cleaner. See file cleaner and system cleaner software sections. Comodo has a tool called wiper which deletes locked files/folders very easily. I had a lock on backup versions of windows folders saying I didn't have permission to delete the file. apparently because the files were locked under the old user name. Comodo system cleaner worked great. hope this helps.
Unlocker 1.9 is a problem: it installs a load of unwanted files even if you don't ask for the Bing toolbar...
I have links to e-bay all over my menus now and there are wanings on the internet and complex articles about how to delete these unwanted files. Far from being problem-free it now has nasties attached which I am having real difficulty in getting rid of!
Please beware!!!
You are right. Unlocker works really great, but recently, it has started including these things with the installer, which is not good. The recent version 1.9.0 goes even one step ahead. If you choose not to install the Bing toolbar, it makes you wait for 30 seconds. Even after that, on the last screen, there is a checbox to untick the ebay shortcuts. If you are not careful to do that, the ebay shortcuts would be installed on the PC.
In the previous versions, even if you chose not to install the ebay shortcut, an exe called ebay.exe would still be there in the Program Files folder for Unlocker. Thankfully, its not there in this version.
Be careful with the installers nowadays. They are getting sneakier with these bundled software.
The new Unlocker 1.9 is out and for the first time I had trouble installing it. It had something to do with the timer on accepting/rejecting that BingBar. I know he needs to do this to keep unlocker free. I uninstalled it and installed 1.88. All better now. Also donated a few bucks.
Oh, and it is compatable with 64 bit now.
yes unfortunately unlocker did not work on W7, I installed file assasin mainly because it is from trusted malwarebytes. Not as intuitive or easy to use and missed on first try. Looking foward to reading about a substitute.
found this unlocker VS lockhunter review
http://dottech.org/freewaresr/10534
Unlocker is great, but pops positive on every virus scan, even from filehippo. I think it's boned.
Need an editor for this product!!!
Unlocker only works on x86 (32 bit) windows
Can be made to work in x64 via cludgy workaround
Lockhunter works out the box on x64 systems
- point and right-click a file/folder
- make it go away!
There is also 'File & Folder Unlocker' which unlocks files.
It can also analyze the object to find out for example why a file, process or folder is locked every time the system is shutdown. This can help the user find out why it's locked so that the computer system could be shutdown. The list of open objects can also be exported to text.
http://www.diamondcs.com.au/freeutilities/fileunlocker.php
To me, the easiest solution is to delete the offending files from a non-Windows OS, say Knoppix Live CD. All of these apps being mentioned face the unneeded difficulty of having to wrestle with Windows while trying to perform their tasks.
This is anon 11:14...
If you want to really test these apps, create a file with absolutely no filenames and no extension. A 100% nameless file. Windows has so many built-in protections against this evil act but it can be done.
This nameless file will redefine STUBBORN. None (yes, NONE) of these file remover apps I tested could delete it. If you try to, say, use Pocket Killbox to delete it; Pocket Killbox won't even be able to find that file properly, much less delete it.
Example : The nameless file is in C:\Test\
If you use Pocket Killbox (or other apps) to locate that file, it would register as "C:\Test\ ".
Now, how do you delete the file "C:\Test\ " ? That is a pointer to a directory, not to a file. This happened with other apps as well. Those apps just squirm in defeat.
I tested this several months ago. Newer versions of those apps might come up and able to do this but I doubt it :D
I know a method to delete that 100% nameless file. A method so not-high class, those apps probably forgot about it. You'll definitely agree with me if you know what I'm talking about.
PS : I won't tell how to create the file. Do. not. ask.
I have data on a HDD that I cannot delete. It is some text leftovers from deleted links in the "temporary internet files" folder that I backed up to this removable HDD. It is text in a long line or string but without an extension added to it. It is impossible for me to delete it with these special deleteing apps or with the "move-on-boot" app., that used to be very effective.
What can I do-??
Sorry, forgot one important thing. I tested it on 32-bit WinXP with NTFS file system.
I don't know how it goes in other version of Windows/filesystem. There might be some differences.