Cannot Delete Any Files in Windows

When you try to delete a file in Windows, you may receive the following error message: When this behavior occurs, you can still delete files in MS-DOS mode.

This behavior can occur if the Recycle Bin has become corrupted, or if you have installed and then uninstalled Fix-It Utilities by Mijenix Corporation, causing the Recycle Bin to become corrupted.

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Shutdown, and then click Restart to MS-DOS.
2. Type CD\, and then press ENTER.
3. Type CD RECYCLED, and then press ENTER.
4. Type ATTRIB -r -s -h info2.*, and then press ENTER.
5. Type DEL INFO2, and then press ENTER. NOTE: This deletes the damaged INFO2 file and creates a new file automatically.
6. Windows 95: Restart your computer.
   
   When you see the Starting Windows 95 message, press F8, and then on the Startup menu, select Command Prompt Only.
   
   Windows 98: Restart your computer, press and hold down the CTRL key after your computer completes the Power On Self Test (POST), and then on the Startup menu, select Command Prompt Only.NOTE: You can start the computer with the Windows Startup disk if it is available.
   
   
7. At the command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after each line:
   attrib -r -s -h c:\recycled
   deltree c:\recycled
   NOTE: If the problem occurs on a drive other than C, substitute the appropriate drive letter for drive C in the above commands.
   
   
8. Restart the computer. This re-creates the Recycle Bin.

For additional information about the Recycle Bin, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.