Owners of USB drives periodically need to delete some objects in order to free up space and place new files there. However, sometimes when trying to get rid of a directory, various errors occur, accompanied by a notification that this action cannot be performed. The causes of such problems can be different, respectively, for each of them there is its own solution. Next, we just want to talk about methods for correcting such difficulties.

Most often, such problems are associated with the fact that at the moment the file located in the folder is being used by some process, which makes deletion impossible. In addition, all directories have access levels for different categories of users, which also affects file management. Therefore, we advise you to familiarize yourself with each common option, and only then proceed to follow the instructions.

Method 1: Disabling write protection

Flash drives with a hardware write protection function are now quite rare, but before moving on to more complex methods, we recommend checking whether such a switch is available on the media you are using. If the protection feature is enabled, you will not be able to copy or delete any files. This can be corrected by simply moving the switch in the opposite direction. You can get acquainted with its appearance by paying attention to the image below.

Method 2: Granting delete rights

As mentioned earlier, one of the most common reasons for difficulties when deleting a folder is the lack of rights to carry out such an operation. Most often, such restrictions are set manually by users, but sometimes this happens automatically. This situation can be corrected only by changing the access rights through the folder owner’s computer.

If you did not create the directory located inside the flash drive, you should also try this option, be sure to take into account all the notes that will be indicated in the following instructions.

1. First boot the operating system into safe mode, so that no unnecessary processes are launched, and third-party settings that may interfere with changing rights are not activated. Read more about this operation in our separate material below.

Read more: How to enter Safe Mode in Windows 7/Windows 8/Windows 10

2. Go to section "This computer" and open the removable device.



3. Right-click on the required folder and select from the context menu "Properties".



4. Here move to the tab "Safety".



5. Select the LMB of the user from whom you tried to delete the directory and look at his permissions. If all the checkboxes are next to "Prohibit", changes will need to be made.



6. Click on the button "Change".



7. Check the box "Allow" near "Full access" and apply the settings.



8. However, the possible availability of special permits should not be ruled out. Check them out by going to the section "Additionally".



9. Click on "Change permissions".



10. Now find the element you need, select it and click on "Change".



11. Scroll down the list. There you need to make sure that the actions associated with deletion are in the state "Allow".



12. After applying all the changes, try getting rid of the required folder again.

If this method fails, you will still receive a notification that you do not have permission to delete the required directory. Then we recommend logging into the OS under account administrator, if this has not been done previously, and try to clear the library again.

Surely almost every user home computer or laptop, have you encountered a situation where you cannot delete a file or folder from your computer. When you try to do this, a window with error information pops up on your desktop. Naturally, the file that you deleted has not gone anywhere and lies quietly in its old place. So how do you delete a file that won't delete?

Using different programs

Often the user is unable to delete a file because it is open and used in some program, and it does not allow the file to be permanently deleted. For example, you decide to delete text file programs Microsoft Word, but at the same time the document itself is open in parallel, and the deletion operation is not completed. Or there is another example: by the way, after watching a movie, the user wanted to delete the video file from the computer, but before that he did not turn off the utility with which he played the video. Naturally, the video file was not deleted. To resolve the problem, you need to close all programs that are using the file to be deleted and try again. This way you can delete files that cannot be deleted. This is the simplest situation, and, unfortunately, it is not the only one. There are other situations when a file is not deleted. What to do?

Computer RAM

So, all your dances with a tambourine around the file did not bring any results. And you still don't know how to delete a file that won't delete. This can only mean one thing: the processes associated with the application being removed are still active or remain in RAM computer. Visually, the application is closed and is nowhere to be seen, but the computer system does not think so. There are two ways to solve this: either end the process through the task manager, or simply restart the computer. If you have never worked with the task manager or have never even heard of it, then it is better to just reboot, and you can learn how to use the manager later. So what, the file is still not deleted? Let's move on.

Invalid characters

Invalid characters in the name sometimes become the main reason for the question of how to delete a file that is not deleted. Usually the system does not allow you to name the file incorrectly and warns the user about this in advance with a pop-up error window. But sometimes system malfunctions happen, and you may accidentally give a file or program an incorrect, incorrect name. This can only happen when the program in which you opened or edited the file crashes. This often happens when unpacking a rar or zip archive. Try renaming the file, this may fix the problem and the file will be deleted. If the file is not deleted from the computer even after this, try “safe mode”.

Safe Mode

If all of the above methods are ineffective, then you should try deleting the file in safe mode. This is easy to do, although it may seem at first glance the most difficult way. First we restart the computer and when the Windows logo appears on the screen, press the F8 key. The button sometimes does not work, so it is better to press it several times in a row or even hold it down and hold it. After this, the boot menu will appear, and in it you need to select the “Safe Mode” option, then press the Enter key. Next, the desktop loads, but in safe mode. Find the file and delete it. You can load “safe mode” in another way , inserting the disk from which the operating system was installed into the drive. That's all you need to know about how to delete a file that cannot be deleted.

Unlocker

But, of course, it may be that safe mode also could not help. You should use the Unlocker function when the following problems arise:

1. Access to the file is denied, it is impossible to delete it.

2. A file or folder is using a file, but when you close it, you still can’t delete it.

3. The disc is protected from writing and other changes.

4. A file sharing error appears.

5. Other reasons.

But no matter how hard the computer tries to prevent you from deleting the file, Unlocker will do a great job of resolving this issue. Unlocker is special program, which deals with the removal of non-deletable files and folders. It conveniently and quickly integrates into Explorer, and as soon as you receive a notification about the impossibility of deleting a file, you can easily delete it by right-clicking on the file and calling up the context menu. Unlocker masterfully shows all the processes and programs that are blocking normal removal, and by ending them, you can get rid of unnecessary file. You can also postpone the removal until the next boot of your computer's OS.

The best part: Unlocker is a completely free program, so when using it, you don't have to worry about supporting cyber piracy. Your conscience will be clear. Reviews about Unlocker are very positive.

Unlocker Compatibility

The program for deleting undeletable files works on both 32-bit and 64-bit systems. The program has been translated into more than 40 languages, including Russian.

Problems with the flash drive

If files are not deleted from the flash drive, then the problem needs to be solved differently. The main difference in deleting files from a flash drive is that they are not moved to the trash, but are deleted from the computer completely, once and for all. This handy feature can be a major cause for concern when you find a file that can't be deleted. Although the file itself does not pose any inconvenience or any threats, it is still an eyesore.

Reasons for not deleting files from a flash drive

How to delete a file that is not deleted from a flash drive? Maybe this is due to mechanical write protection. Carefully inspect your flash drive or memory card. If you find a small mechanical switch, then you are on the right track. Look at the position he is in. The point is that this small lever protects the flash drive from unwanted recording of any information, deletion, formatting - almost any user activity in relation to the flash drive or memory card. If the switch is activated, then when you try to delete a file, the following notifications pop up: “Remove write protection”, “The disk is write protected”, “Cannot delete the file”.

Flash drive and viruses

Of course, a common cause may be that your computer is “sick” with various viruses. You can pick them up anywhere, mainly on the Internet. If the file was deleted and then reappeared, then you are one hundred percent sure you have a virus. If you have an antivirus installed, then you should check your flash drive with it; if not, then well, you will have to go through the process of downloading and installing the antivirus on your computer. Absolutely any antivirus will do, of course, with an up-to-date antivirus database.

Flash drive file system

The flash drive is controlled by utility programs, and they can also fail. Then formatting the flash drive will help. But at the same time it will be completely cleared of information.

Formatting a flash drive

This is the easiest and most effective way to get rid of files on external storage. But be careful, formatting will delete not only those files that you want to get rid of, but also all the others that are on the flash drive. Everything is quite simple, right-click on the flash drive in the “My Computer” window and select “Format”. Next, select the one file system which suits you best, and the cluster size. You can leave the default values, but if you have special preferences, you can customize the formatting to suit your needs. Then uncheck the box next to “Quick” and begin the removal process.

Errors

How to delete a non-deletable file from a flash drive? The media may contain errors that interfere with normal operation. To fix this, you need to right-click on the flash drive icon, go to “Properties” and go to the “Service” tab. Click the "Check" button and all errors will be found and corrected.

Negligence

Many computer users think: why bother with such a thorough removal of programs, let them lie around on the hard drive, there is no harm from them. This is wrong. If you let everything take its course and leave cluttered compartments hard drive with all sorts of garbage, files, folders, archives and different programs, then over time your computer will become glitchy and not work properly. And this is not an assumption - this is a fact. Therefore, you should always clean your computer. An operating system that is handled with care, garbage is removed on time, the cache is cleared, and pirated content that may contain viruses is not used, will work much longer. Several years of uninterrupted operation are guaranteed. If, of course, you like to reinstall the system every three to four months, then please don’t delete anything.

Basket

If you simply clicked “Delete file” without using hot buttons, then the system throws it into the trash, from where you can later restore it if desired, you can also delete it again, but from the trash completely. If you are not deleting files from the Recycle Bin, then you don’t have to sit for several hours trying to figure out what the problem is and how to solve it. It is enough to simply delete the recycle bin along with all non-deletable files. Go to the "Start" menu - "Run-cmd. Code rd /s c:\recycler". The question pops up: "Are you sure you want to delete the trash can?" - press “Y” and thereby confirm the choice.

Bottom line

Here are almost all the most adequate ways to delete files from your computer. Almost all the ways you can delete a file are listed: both through the program and using “safe mode”. We figured out how to delete from a flash drive. But there are people for whom all of the above is real magic, worse than in Harry Potter, so for such people it is better to call programmers to solve their problems. There is nothing terrible in the fact that such people do not know what to do with undeletable programs and files. In life, things are not like that.

On Windows of any version (XP, 7, 8, 10), a problem often arises when a file or folder with a locked file is not deleted. A message pops up that the file is occupied by another process or is open in some program, or you need to ask permission from someone.

There are several ways to delete a file that is not deleted, renamed, or moved. This is done without additional software, using free program Unlocker, from a bootable USB flash drive or LiveCD, or the DeadLock program.

When deleting locked files and folders, be careful, this may be part of operating system. Without them, Windows will stop loading.

Why isn't it deleted?

• The file is open in another program. Terminate any unnecessary processes and try again. Sometimes restarting the computer helps.
• Insufficient permissions to delete. For example, this file was created by another user or the computer administrator removed the deletion rights.

Exceptions

The methods described in the article will not always help:

• pagefile.sys and swapfile.sys - to remove, disable the swap file.
• hiberfil.sys - deleted when hibernation mode is disabled.
• If an access denied message appears. You need to become the owner of the file or folder. The easiest way to do this is with the TakeOwnershipPro program.
• If a message appears asking permission from TrustedInstaller. This is protection against the removal of system components.
• Windows.old - folder with old version operating system. It is deleted through the “Properties” of the local drive C. On the General tab there is a “Cleanup” button. A window will open in which select “Clear system files" After the analysis is completed, the “Previous” item will appear in the list in this window. Windows installations" Check this box and click OK.

Deleting the file manually

Message: The file is already in use, please close and try again.

If a file doesn't want to be deleted, the error message usually tells you which process has locked it. This could be explorer.exe or any program that has it open. If you close this program, the file will be deleted.




If the file is occupied by the explorer.exe process

• Before completing the task, open Command Prompt as an administrator. It is located in “Start - All Programs - Accessories”. Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator.
• Remove the explorer.exe task in the task manager and write it in command line del full_path/name.extension.
• The path does not have to be entered manually. Right-click on the desired file while holding Shift - Copy as path, and paste it into the command line through the right-click context menu.
• Now restart explorer.exe. In the task manager, click "File - New task - explorer.exe".

Use a bootable USB flash drive or disk

If you have a bootable USB flash drive or LiveCD, or Windows recovery, run them and quietly delete the file standard method or via the command line.


Be careful sometimes when entering through boot disk local drives have different letters. To see a list of folders on drive C, type dir c: on the command line.

If you use bootable USB flash drive or Windows installation disk, the console opens at any time after the language selection stage, using the key combination Shift + F10.

You can also select the system recovery mode, which will be offered before starting the OS installation.

Command for deleting via the console: del full_path_to_the_file.

Using DeadLock

The free DeadLock program allows you to delete a locked file and change the owner. Download from the official website: https://codedead.com/?page_id=822.

Using the File menu, add the problematic file to the program. Right-click on it in the list - unlock it (Unlock) and delete it (Remove).




Using Unlocker

The simplest and most popular program, but now even on the official website a warning about unwanted software is displayed. Along with the program, there may be some other virus or advertising, so use at your own peril and risk. Try the methods above first. Website: http://www.emptyloop.com/unlocker/.

After installation, a new item will appear in the context menu, which is called Unlocker. After clicking the button, the program will complete the interfering process and the file will be unlocked.




If you want to delete a folder, first delete all its contents.

Via command line

There was such a case that the file did not want to be deleted in any way. The size was 0 bytes, the name was written in Russian letters (not supported in older versions of MS-DOS), there was a Read-only attribute and an A attribute (only reading and adding content). The command line helped.




That's all for now. If you know simpler and effective ways, write them in the comments. Which method helped you?

Sometimes a user needs to completely delete data from a flash drive. For example, this is needed when the user is going to transfer the flash drive into the wrong hands or he needs to destroy confidential data - passwords, PIN codes, and so on.

Simply deleting or even formatting the device will not help in this case, since there are programs for data recovery. Therefore, it is necessary to use several programs that can completely delete information from a USB drive.

Let's consider ways complete removal information from a flash drive. We will do this in three ways.

Method 1: Eraser HDD

The Eraser HDD utility completely erases information without the possibility of recovery.

Once deleted, it will be impossible to restore the data.

Method 2: Freeraser

This utility also specializes in data destruction.

Due to its reliability and ease of use, it has gained popularity among users. To use Freeraser, do this:

Method 3: CCleaner

Method 4: Delete data multiple times

In case you urgently need to get rid of data on a flash drive, but you don’t have it at hand specialized programs, you can use the manual overwriting technique: to do this, you need to delete the data several times, write down any information again, and delete it again. And do this at least 3 times. This rewriting algorithm works effectively.


In addition to the listed methods of using specialized software, there are other methods. For example, for business processes you can use special devices that allow you to destroy information without subsequent recovery.

It can literally be mounted on a flash drive. If it falls into the wrong hands, the data is automatically destroyed. The system has proven itself well "Magma II". The device destroys information using a generator of ultra-frequency waves. After exposure to such a source, the information cannot be restored, but the medium itself is suitable for further use. Externally, such a system looks like a regular case that can be used to store a flash drive. Having such a case, you can rest assured that the data on the USB drive is safe.

Currently, a flash drive is a common and necessary device for storing information. Even a novice PC user can easily write or delete data from a flash drive. But since this equipment works in conjunction with complex computer technology, there are situations when information cannot be saved or erased. And the question arises, what to do if files are not deleted from the flash drive or, conversely, it is not possible to restore them.

How to clean the drive if applications and documents are not deleted.

You should know that when you delete information from a drive, it is not the file itself that is erased, but only the record about it. For example, like in a library, a book is lost, but a card indicating that it is there remains. And therefore, knowing how to delete everything from a flash drive, you can either restore the information or completely get rid of it.

IMPORTANT. All formatted data in these ways can be easily accessed by typing “Recover deleted file” in the search bar.

Why can't you delete files from a flash drive?

If, after all the above manipulations, files are not deleted from the flash drive, this may mean the following:

• Hardware protection.
• Software protection.
• The folder is being used by another program.
• Presence of errors.

If you don’t understand why you can’t delete files from the flash drive, you can try restarting your computer in safe mode and logging in as an administrator. In the folder properties, find the “Security” tab, where you click on the “Advanced” button. Select the “Owner” item and assign yourself to it. Then, using the task manager (Ctrl+Alt+Del), close all processes and try to delete the information again.

Possible solutions to the problem

When you enter the question “I can’t delete a folder from a flash drive” into a search engine, the browser usually produces a bunch of information from which you have to choose suitable problem and solve it. In fact, this is not very difficult to do even for a beginner.

If files from a flash drive are not deleted, what to do with hardware protection

Modern drives have a special lock on the device case. It is he who enables or disables the blocking. It is enough to switch it, and you will be able to save or remove information from the media.

If a folder is not deleted from a flash drive, what to do with software protection?

For an experienced programmer, there are many options for how to remove non-deletable files with software lock from a flash drive, but the average person can try simpler methods:

• Formatting. If there is no valuable information on the drive, then you can do this with the right mouse button and in the options set the file system (NTFS) and the cluster unit size (4096 bytes).
• Removing the virus. If the system perceives a removable disk as a virus and blocks the entire process of working with it, you should check the USB with any antivirus and, if possible, destroy it.

IMPORTANT. If after all the manipulations on the USB there is still empty folder, you need to restart your PC and remove it again.

How to delete all data from a flash drive if it is being used by another process

This is a fairly common problem and you just need to close this mysterious program if it is known or use a third-party utility (Unlocker, LockHunter, Iobit Unlocker, etc.). Unlocker is one of best programs to delete undeletable files.

IMPORTANT. All of the listed applications have a huge disadvantage; they will not be able to warn you about the erroneous deletion of system files.

Presence of errors

It may be that the disk is damaged or the contents are not recorded correctly, then the system generates an error. In this case, you can eliminate it. In the root USB folder, right-click “Properties”, “Tools”, “Check for errors”.

When formatting a flash drive, you need to understand that there can be many usual ways to delete information, but in the case of non-deletable data, it can be a good helper file manager Unlocker.