[hollowed454]

hey all I'm new here I have a question about a file on my computer. The file won't delete or anything. Its just like an empty file. Won't open,won't delete. When I right click on the file it doesn't even give a delete option. Can anyone help? I'm running Windows XP Service Pack 2 Pentium 4 Processor is any of that is useful to you. thanks in advance

 

[Anthony:-P]

Hi and Welcome to TSG!
Try going to go start > all programs > accesories > system tools > disk cleanup.

When it opens select the drive where the file is located...If you only have one then it will be selected automatically.
click ok and it will run.
Upon completion check all the boxes and click clean....this should help you.

What was the file to out of interest? A game, or just a document?

Kind Regards
Anthony

 

[Augie65]

Try deleting the file in safe mode. At boot, start tapping F8 key before the splash screen. At the advance options menu, use the arrow key to highlight Safe Mode and hit Enter. If it will not delete in safe mode, you can try MoveOnBoot.

 

[hollowed454]

hey thanks for the welcome.
Unfortunatly that doesn't seem to have worked.
The file it says is an image file but when I click on it to see what it is it just says no preview available. Its labeled ax_ax. I was browsing through my computer and clicked on my ebooks and noticed the file. I have no idea where it came from even. When I right click i just gives the option of preview,edit,rotate etc but no delete option. I went through notepad selected all files and tried to delete it that way but it said invalid file name or something like that

 

[hollowed454]

Try deleting the file in safe mode. At boot, start tapping F8 key before the splash screen. At the advance options menu, use the arrow key to highlight Safe Mode and hit Enter. If it will not delete in safe mode, you can try MoveOnBoot.

ok cool I'll try that here in just a sec. thanks

 

[hollowed454]

nope even putting in safe mode didn't work. I tried the MoveOnBoot and it just says invalid file name and won't do anything

 

[Anthony:-P]

Hi hollowed454,
Ok are you logged in as an admin?
Which version of XP are you running? Home or Professional?
It could be to do with some wierd local security policies (which i doubt) or permissions which have been set on the file.
Kind Regards
Anthony

 

[hollowed454]

Hey Anthony I'm running Home Edition and I am logged on as Adminstrator

 

[Anthony:-P]

Hi,
Ok there shouldn't be any file permissions stopping you then.
we'll see if taking ownership of the file alows you to do this.
Visit that link --> This one @ Microsoft

And i'll keep looking around
Kind Regards
Anthony

 

[Anthony:-P]

NOTE!!!
You must start the computer in safe mode to do what i stated above

 

[hollowed454]

I was looking at the website on taking ownership only problem is it doesn't have a properties tab. I had doubtfully tried cutting and pasting the file into the recycle bin but of course that failed as expected

only options it has are preview,edit,print,rotate clockwise,rotate counter clockwise,set as desktop background,open with,send to....

I tried opening it again with notepad and it said access is denied

 

[Anthony:-P]

Hi,

Can you get the delete and properties options in the right click menu on other folders?
What is the extension of the file by the way? being a picture file it would probably be either .png, .gif, .jpg, .jpeg, etc etc


Kind Regards
Anthony

 

[hollowed454]

yes everything else I can get the properties on just for some reason this odd file will not

it says its in jpeg format
689kb

so that says to me its some kind of file but no idea what

 

[Augie65]

Here is another utility you can try.
Unlocker

 

[Telstar]

You could also try using the feature in your HJT:
HijackThis>System Tools>Remove a file on reboot.

Although it works pretty much the same as MoveOnBoot, that is it removes the file before Windows has the chance to lock on to it during rebooting.

"I tried the MoveOnBoot and it just says invalid file name and won't do anything"

Try changing the file name/extension if you get the same notice.

 

[hollowed454]

well I tried both of those programs and neither has worked on the file.
I also tried to change the file name but I can't even do so much as change the file name.
The file doesn't seem to be causing any harm but kind of annoying that its even there.

 

[Telstar]

hmm...you say it's an "image" file and labeled ax_ax?

Do a Start>Search for the file and see if it appears in more than one location.

When you right-click on it do you get "Open With" on your menu...if so, try opening it with an image viewer.

Yes, we know the file isn't causing you any grief but, now it's become the challenge of successfully deleting this stubborn file now that all conventional methods have failed.

Do you have an image viewer like IrfanView or MSPaint that you can use to try and open the file?

ADD EDIT:
I'm presuming that the file extension is .ax.

A google search found this: .AX FILE EXTENSION
and says it's a Plugin File>DirectShow Filter:

Program(s) that open ax files:
Mac OS>Apple QuickTime Player or other media player that supports video filters
Windows>Apple QuickTime Player or other media player that supports video filters

If you have installed QT (or perhaps it will show up in your Search) see if it's located in QT Plugins or Firefox/IE Plugins.

 

[hollowed454]

I tried to open the file with ifranview but it just says no file loaded. I tried it as well with other various programs like Paint and Photoshop
Unfortunatly this odd files name is ax_ax but it says its a jpeg file.
After doing the search it appears to only have shown up in My Ebooks. I right clicked on it and still got the same results without a delete or properties options.

 

[Telstar]

After doing the search it appears to only have shown up in My Ebooks.

What is "My Ebooks"?

A program? (I don't have anything called that on my XP Home).

An Electronic Book reader? (An e-book can be distributed as a sequence of images, one for each page.)

 

[blkwlnt64]

Are there any other members in 'my ebooks' ?
If so, move them somewhere else temporarily.
In either case, then try deleting 'my ebooks' and let us know the results.