File won't delete

I use the Pictures folder alot on my Vista based computer, and recently I was
sorting through some of the pictures, deciding which ones to keep and which
to delete. Most of these I have copied from my digital camera, and some I
have downloaded from the web. Well, after having gone through them all, there
is at least one in particular that I cannot seem to delete. I don't want it
to just be sent to the Recycle Bin, but completely erased from the computer.
I have discounted any viruses or spyware, and checked all my 'Folder'
settings, but nothing I can think of to do will remove this file from the
folder. It also does not actually show up in normal viewing, only if i do a
search using special variables. It only shows up if I type, "*.jpg" into the
search bar when I am viewing the directory. I can't however do anything with
the file. I can't move it, I can't rename it, and while it shows a thumbnail
image of the photo, when I click on it to open it, the picture viewer shows
no photo-representation. I also can't replace it with another file with the
same exact name. How do I permanently remove this one file? And how did it
get to the point of being undeletable. File properties do not show that it is
'hidden' or 'read only'.

Thank you

JohnL wrote:
> I use the Pictures folder alot on my Vista based computer, and
> recently I was sorting through some of the pictures, deciding which
> ones to keep and which to delete. Most of these I have copied from my
> digital camera, and some I have downloaded from the web. Well, after
> having gone through them all, there is at least one in particular
> that I cannot seem to delete. I don't want it to just be sent to the
> Recycle Bin, but completely erased from the computer. I have
> discounted any viruses or spyware, and checked all my 'Folder'
> settings, but nothing I can think of to do will remove this file from
> the folder. It also does not actually show up in normal viewing, only
> if i do a search using special variables. It only shows up if I type,
> "*.jpg" into the search bar when I am viewing the directory. I can't
> however do anything with the file. I can't move it, I can't rename
> it, and while it shows a thumbnail image of the photo, when I click
> on it to open it, the picture viewer shows no photo-representation. I
> also can't replace it with another file with the same exact name. How
> do I permanently remove this one file? And how did it get to the
> point of being undeletable. File properties do not show that it is
> 'hidden' or 'read only'.
>
> Thank you
====================================
Maybe you could delete the file in safe mode:

Windows Vista -
What Is Safe Mode
http://tinyurl.com/2mpeef
or...
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/d063548a-3fc9-4723...f3-b12a

Windows Vista -
Start your computer in safe mode
http://tinyurl.com/397vhf
or...
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/323ef48f-7b93-4079...8a-5c58

Maybe the following freebie would be useful...
after installing...right click the offending file
and choose Unlocker.

Unlocker
http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/

One more possible...if this thumbnail is showing
up when you are using Windows Photo Gallery...
it may be worth a try to rename or delete the
Pictures.pd4 database file.

This database named "Pictures.pd4" includes
thumbs and metadata and is found at the
following location.

C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\
Windows Photo Gallery\Pictures.pd4

The file can also be found with an Advanced
Search for pd4.

Go to...Start / Search / Advanced Search.

Check the box..."Include non-indexed, hidden,
and system files" Enter pd4 in the Name field
and left click the Search button.

Rename the file to Pictures.OLD and the next
time you open Photo Gallery it should be as it
was the first time you opened it.

--

John Inzer
Digital Media MVP

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk