can't delete / move .exe file after it is run in vista 64bit

Vista does have it's quirks, that's for sure, have you tried deleting from an elevated command prompt?
or you could try this, (sometimes it works)
Run notepad.exe
Go "File" "Open"
select the file and hit delete

hod said:

Hi there,

I have a very unusual problem with my vista ultimate 64 bit,
when ever I execute an exe file, I can't delete it afterwards.
I can delete it after restart.
There is no security problem, if I do not execute the file then I can delete, move and do what I want. The moment it is run, and certainly close it, I can't delete it any longer.​

I checked that the process is not running any more.
I tried to see if something is locking the file, no handle was found on the file.​

It happens for different programs, no matter what as long as it is an .exe file.
I tried unlocker program that said the file is not locked.
It happens even on a usb key with FAT.
The moment I run the exe from the key I can't delete it, and I can't remove the key the right way.
When I pull out the key, and return it, I can delete the file, it is free.
But I can't do that to my hard drive.
Tried scanning for virus, and malware - nothing was found.
Tried security related, but since it happen on a usb FAT disk, and there is no security for that, I am starting to give up.
At this time formatting the computer in not an option.
I will appreciate [FONT=&quot]any help.

Thanks in advance.
hod[/FONT]​

Click to expand...

ghost said:

Vista does have it's quirks, that's for sure, have you tried deleting from an elevated command prompt?
or you could try this, (sometimes it works)
Run notepad.exe
Go "File" "Open"
select the file and hit delete

Click to expand...

tries using elevated cmd, get "Access is denied." replay.
tried to remove it from notepad, the same as form explorer - don't work.
the problem for me, I use this computer for programming, and after compiling for the first time since booting the computer, I can't recompile again since it actually deletes the file and compile a new one, but it can't delete and there for can't recompile.
when I try to delete from explorer I get the message "The action can't be completed because the file is open in another program", but I used SysInternals Handle program to find if this file is open, and it is not.
I tried to delete the handle program after running it, just for try, and I can't.
I also tried creating an exe file from application I wrote access it, modify it, and delete it with no problem.
the only file that I can't change or delete is the .exe that I actually run, although the program ended.
I tried disabling the write cash for the disk, it didn't solve the problem.
disabled the antivirus - still no good.
disabled windows defender - still no good.
installed the Sysinternal suit it has more then 40 exe files to same folder, run 16 of them, then tried do delete all.
[FONT=&quot]well all the exe files that I didn't run were deleted ok, the 16 files that I run could not be deleted.[/FONT]

thanks,

Do they resist all changes? Will they cut and paste or accept renaming?

Ardneh said:

Do they resist all changes? Will they cut and paste or accept renaming?

Click to expand...

OK, I can rename the file.
I can cut and paste.
it appears I can move the files, but I can't delete them after the rename or move.

but I can only move them within the same disk, if a try to move them from one disk to another, it fails.

thanks

Have you 'Taken Ownership" of your work folders as described in Brink's
tutorial.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67717-take-ownership-file.html

Yes I did, made sure i am the owner of the directory and file, before running the file.
remember i can delete the file before i run it. i made sure i have full rights.
after running the .exe, i can't delete it.
but i can change it rights, and take ownership and do all the security changes i want, i can do everything except delete it. i can change its content, i open it with a hex editor and changed its content.

Can you cut and paste to a USB Flash Drive and then yank the sucker?

no I can't. i can't move to a different disk, what it does it just copy to the destination disk, and i receive an error that the file can't be deleted.
i don't have the problem with one file, but with all exe files every where.
after restart all the files are free again as long as i don't start them.
the problem i can't develop i can't restart my computer for every change I make.
and i can't update, for every small update i need to restart since the exe file is locked, and shutting down the application is no good.

Well. I suppose you might try making a new User Account and seeing if the problem isn't there. If it isn't - "migrate" and delete the old account.

Tried creating a new user - same problem

This program addresses exactly this problem.

Unlocker: Download site.

UNLOCKER 1.8.7 BY CEDRICK 'NITCH' COLLOMB

Freeware

Tried that, with a different program Called "EMCO UnLockIT" since UNLOCKER does not support 64bit yet.
but it say that the file is not locked, and its wright, remember i can rename the file, and can even move it to a new dir on the same disk, that can't be done on a locked file.
so i know the file is not locked, and there is no handle open on the file. so basically that does not solve my problem.
something in the heart of the system, keep track op exe fies and does not let you delete them.
could be a virus trying to write himself to the file with no success, but a handle should be open for the file and i can't find any. and i didn't find a virus on the system.

Just a few more ideas to toss out.

Are you operating from or have you tried using the so-called
"Real Built-in Administrator Account" Brink refers to here:
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67567-administrator-account.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ShellExView --- Shell extension conflicts could be cause.
ShellExView - Shell Extension Manager For Windows
------------------------------------------------
Windows Explorer shell fix keeps coming to mind for some reason.
Tools and Utilities
-------------------------------------------------

Best of Luck.
Ardneh

Thanks I Will try that and let you know if it helps

I just noticed Windows Explorer shell fix is Windows XP only.

Also ShellExView has both 32 and 64 bit versions.

Well i noticed it to, the ShellExView showed nothing wrong, i tries total commander to delete the same problem.
I thing i have a problem with a bad system file filter driver on my computer.
do you now how can i see the filter drivers, and how can i remove them?

I've heard of something called DTM, Driver Test Mgr but I'm not up on this
subject.

Here's another Power deleter though.
DelinvFile:
AfterDawn.com
--------------------------
Search DelinvFile
--------------------------
The developer says this version supports Vista so disregard "XP"
at download site.

Ardneh

it's no good, and anyhow remember that happen for every exe file that is run on the system no matter where.
I did find out something new, it doesn't happen for every exe file, I run a console based exe file (that has no windows GUI) and it was not locked and I could delete it.
let sum up:
OS: Vista Ultimate 64bit service pack 2.
it is not a security problem because if I don't run the file, I can delete it, and if I restart I can delete it.
the file isn't locked nor open by other process because:
I could not find any handle on file, and the file is not locked, since I can move it to another folder, as long it is within the same volume, I can't move it between disks(volumes), and I can rename it. (you can't move or rename an open or locked file), and I can change its content (not overwrite).
it doesn't happen just because of the exe extension, some dos file with same extension can be deleted after run.
main problem:
can't develop (windows app) since recompiling need to overwrite the program (exe file).
need to restart for every update and some update are impossible, since they do not support overwrite after reboot, so need to uninstall (usually need 2 restarts, the first to free the program).
I think it could be an undetected root kit virus, or a file system filter problem.
if anyone knows how to list the file filter on the system, that will be great. - one more step to resolve the problem.

Also I found:


It turned out that "Windows operating system automatically extract the application name from the version resource of the exe file, and stores it for using it later, in Registry key known as the 'MuiCache'."
there is also a program that let you see this cache called MUICacheView.
and it so happen for me at least that every exe file get stack, it happen in low level of the operating system, even if you don't use explorer for running the application.
Don't know why Vista needs to keep a record for every application i run on my computer[FONT=&quot]) [/FONT]I[FONT=&quot] [/FONT] think this should be asked on a new thread.)
wonder if anyone knows how to stop windows from doing that.
it could be the solution for my problem.

Problem Solved:
I am using comodo internet security or should I say used. (I really liked the product)
so it happens, after many looking around I found that it is the only non Microsoft filter driver I have.
I did disabled the program, but apparently it wasn't enough,
so I uninstalled the program, and everything returned to normal.
I want to thank everyone for their help.