Remove uninstallable Windows 7 programs. Utilities for deleting system files and folders

Sometimes you have to face a situation when you can't delete a file .

The file is in use by another program and cannot be deleted.
In another situation, system protection of the file system is triggered, then it is reported that access to this file is denied.

Before you ask the question - how to delete a file that cannot be deleted, you should think about whether the correct actions are taken for the file deletion operation?

Incorrect deletion of Windows 10 files

How to delete files that cannot be deleted in Windows 10

Before deleting system files, you need to make sure in safety deleting such files. Deleting files necessary for Windows operation will lead to a complete system crash..

To remove system files, must have administrator rights. Such rights allow you to exercise control over the file system at the administrator level and be responsible for deleting most Windows 10 files .

How to check administrator rights on Windows 10

START menu and Change account settings. records

Under your account name there should be an inscription Administrator

If the first option for deleting files did not help, then the following options are suitable for removing remnants (garbage) of incorrectly deleted programs or applications. Using these methods you can delete a non-deletable file without rebooting the system.

All ways to delete files from your computer

Rename the file to be deleted, replacing its name with an arbitrary one. After rebooting the system, it will be possible to delete the file, since Windows 10 will no longer protect it from deletion, since we renamed it.
Clear all additional attributes. Open the properties of the selected object through the context menu, uncheck its additional attributes, in particular removing the “read-only” and “system” properties, repeat the deletion procedure;
Open the file in a suitable program. If the object is typical (for example, a text file with the appropriate extension), try opening it in the appropriate program, then change the contents and resave, deleting it again;
Check the dates. If the file properties indicate clearly incorrect creation and modification dates (differing by decades or more), try changing them to realistic ones using the "Advanced Properties" tab.
Using a resuscitator or LiveCD/Flash. Boot from any available LiveCD/DVD or flash drive, regardless of the system installed on it (Windows, Linux, etc.) - the main thing is that your OS on the hard drive does not participate in the process. Try to delete the file;
Connecting a hard drive as a storage device to another PC. If there is no LiveCD/Flash, you can simply connect your hard drive to another PC via an external “pocket” or with a direct connection to the SATA (or other interface that your hard drive uses) cable, and then repeat the original operation with the file.

Deleting a file from the Windows operating system seems simple and easy. But under certain circumstances, this task can turn into a certain problem for the user. After all, if the file is used by other applications and processes, if the OS accesses it, if it is blocked by a virus, the standard cleaning procedure no longer has any effect on it. And in this case, you need to use other computer software mechanisms, as well as special applications that delete objects that are not deleted.

Manually deleting files from your computer

Situation No. 1: the audio file is not deleted

Pay attention to the OS message (i.e. why the file is not deleted). Most likely it is played or opened in a media player. If this is the case, remove the track from the playlist and close the application. And then drag it to the Trash.

Situation No. 2: it is impossible to remove the video, disk image or installer

The reason for the refusal may be hidden in the program with which you downloaded these files from the Internet. For example, the uTorrent torrent client constantly accesses downloaded files and folders with the aim of distributing them to other network participants. Check if the file is there. If you find one, disable it or close uTorrent completely. And then start deleting.

Situation #3: the file is locked by a process

Even if the application is closed, the process that accesses it or is part of its software may still be active. In this case, it will block uninstallation or direct removal. To force it to stop, follow these steps:

Press "CTRL" + "SHIFT" + "ESC" simultaneously.
Click on the "Processes" tab.
Right-click on the process associated with the file that is not being deleted.
From the context menu, select "End Process" to forcefully deactivate it.
Close the Manager window.

Removing non-deletable files using software

A tiny utility (a little more than 1 MB). After installation, it is integrated into the system context menu. Does not contain additional settings. Automatically removes software locks from the selected object, be it a folder or a file. Also supports "move" and "rename" functions.

Launch the utility (its icon will appear in the tray).
Right-click on the file you want to delete.
Select Unlocker from the menu list.

Note. Sometimes, when using the utility, a system restart is required (for example, during the process of deleting dynamic libraries.dll).

A free tool for neutralizing “problem” files. Able to remove locks from several elements simultaneously. Performs cleaning correctly: maintains system stability and useful data. It is equipped with a clear interface and does not contain complex settings.

In the utility window, click the “Add” button.
In the additional “Browse files...” window, select a folder or file. Click OK.
Under the top block of the working window, on the button, click the down arrow. Select "Unblock and Delete" from the drop-down menu.
Confirm the action: click “Ok” at the “Continue?” prompt.

A fast cleaner for stubborn files. Displays items that prevent deletion. It can not only stop, but also remove the blocking process. All neutralized objects are placed in the “Trash”.

In the program interface, click the “three dots” button. Select:
- “Browse for a file” - to delete a file;
- “… a folder” - for a folder.
2. In the “Open” window, select the object that you want to remove from the directory.
3. Click the “Open” button.
4. To clear, click “Delete It!” (button in the bottom panel).

Powerful utility. Distributed free of charge. Knows how to remove system files and elements of third-party applications. Determines the reason for the blocking and neutralizes it when the messages “Access denied”, “... protected” from writing”, “... used by another program”, etc. appear. Unloads modules, descriptors and other “software obstacles” from memory.

Click the "..." button on the application bar.
Left-click once on the file or folder that you want to remove from the OS.
Click the “Open” button.
Click "Execute" to activate cleaning.

What to do with system files?

Some files and OS folders cannot be deleted either using standard tools or special programs. They are protected from erasure by special functions. And others, on the contrary, are temporary.

To correctly remove Windows items, do the following:

First of all, determine the status of the file: can the system work without it or not. This can be done on special services (for example, filecheck.ru).

Temporary files (or “digital trash”) can be safely deleted using third-party utilities (for example, folders and libraries from the Temp folder). But it’s better not to touch the “vital” elements. In case of urgent need, it is better to replace them with similar ones using the recovery function, installing special patches, or manually copying them to a directory.

Let your computer always be clean and tidy! And the question “why is the folder not deleted?” will lose relevance for you.

Users often encounter the problem of a file being refused to be deleted due to its use by another application, blocking by malware or some process. “Unblockers” will help solve this problem, removing all restrictions from the file.

In this regard, in this review we decided to consider programs for deleting non-deletable files, the functionality of which will help to “free” objects and allow access to them for the necessary actions. Such utilities can not only “clean”, but also optimize the OS.

Programs	Russian language	License	Rating	Unlock files	Unlock folders
	Yes	Free	9	Yes	Yes
	No	Trial	10	Yes	Yes
	Yes	Free	10	Yes	Yes
	Yes	Free	8	Yes	No
	Yes	Free	10	Yes	Yes
	Yes	Free	10	Yes	Yes
	Yes	Free	8	Yes	No
	No	Free	7	Yes	No

The utility stops or eliminates files occupied by an application or some process. Unlocks the file, after which it can be copied, renamed or deleted. In addition, the functionality allows you to display data about the interfering process, stop it, and remove it from the hard drive. If information was accidentally deleted, you can find it in the trash. LockHunter works on 32 and 64-bit OS.

A high-quality application for unlocking files and folders that have been locked by programs or system processes. Finds processes that are blocked by files, stops their work and opens access to the resource without affecting the operation of the system. A “manual mode” is available to close “braking” actions, stop the “activities” of viruses, spyware and Trojans, unlock encrypted files and DLLs, as well as integration with Windows Explorer.

The functional program removes the ban on moving and deleting files or folders, displays the status of each object and provides access to them for further manipulation. IObit Unlocker processes data efficiently and accurately and removes restrictions when OS treatment is necessary. In a clear and accessible menu, you can easily move an entire folder or a separate file to unlock it by moving it.

The compact software unlocks files “occupied” by applications or processes for their further deletion, moving or renaming. The unlocker finds the blocking process, and the user decides whether to stop it or close it. The utility is integrated into the context menu, and with a built-in assistant it will be easy for beginners to get acquainted with and work with.

The software uninstalls installed utilities, cleans the startup operating system, configures and eliminates “uninstallable” programs. Functioning as an analogue of the standard “Add or Remove Programs” option, Aninstall Tool monitors hidden or recently installed software, removes “busy” objects, searches for utility updates, and also configures startup programs and classifies them by parameters. You can note the “forced removal” and “uninstallation” functions, convenient for completely irreversibly cleaning the material. The only downside is that the free version lasts 30 days.

The program carries out a complete removal of software and its components, clears history in the browser and registry, and cleans additional folders and files that clog the system. Revo Aninstaller analyzes the OS, identifies the software to be removed, determines its location and provides a report with information about unnecessary components. In hunt mode, you can drag a shortcut into a floating window to identify all the options associated with it. In addition, the product cleans office applications, disks and startup manager data. Users note the optimization and accelerated operation of the system after the operation of the utility we are considering.

Often when deleting documents or any data, users are faced with the fact that a particular file does not want to be deleted. When you try to get rid of unnecessary data, the operating system reports an error and the file remains in the wrong place. In this material we will talk about how to delete undeletable files.

Method #1: Close all programs and try again.

If the document does not want to be deleted, then the first thing to do is close all programs and try again. Running programs can use the document and thereby block it. By closing all programs, you will remove the lock and be able to uninstall.

Method number 2. Stop the antivirus.

Antiviruses often block documents that may be infected with viruses. In some cases, such files cannot not only be opened, but also deleted. Stop the antivirus and completely unload it from memory. After this, try again to destroy the document. It is likely that without an antivirus the problem will simply disappear.

Method #3: Log in as an administrator.

In some cases, only an administrator can delete a document. Therefore, if you are using a user account, then log in as an administrator and try again.

Method #4: Restart your computer.

If simply closing programs does not allow you to delete the document, then try restarting your computer. Often, after a reboot, the lock is removed and non-deletable files can be deleted without problems.

Method number 5. Disconnect your computer from the local network.

Also, a document may be blocked if it is being used by other users on the local network. Therefore, if there is a possibility that the document is being used over the network, then turn off the local network and try to delete the undeletable file again.

Method #6: Boot your computer in safe mode.

In this mode, only the most necessary components of the operating system are loaded. While third-party programs that can block documents do not run. Thanks to this, you can get rid of almost any files in safe mode.

Method number 7. Use the Unlocker program.

If none of the previous methods for deleting non-deletable files work, then you can use the Unlocker program. This program allows you to unlock and delete any non-deletable file.

Install the program and right-click on the document you are trying to delete. The “Unlocker” item should appear in the menu.

After selecting this item, the Unlocker program window will open in front of you. Here you will be able to see the process that is blocking your document.

If the computer reports that the file is open in another program

Most often, the inability to delete a file in Windows is due to the fact that it is occupied by some kind of system process. The message “The action cannot be performed because this file is open in “” appears. The name of the program».

In this case, you need to close the program that is using the file and try to delete it again. If you see her window, just close it. If a program is running in the background and you don’t know how to close it, launch “Task Manager” (Ctrl + Alt + Del), find this program by name in the list, right-click on it and select “End task”.

If you can't find the program you need in Task Manager, try a third-party utility that removes file locks. The free LockHunter app is suitable. After installing it, right-click on the file and select What is locking this file?. When the LockHunter window appears, click on the Unlock It! button.

After that, try deleting the file again. If unsuccessful, restart your computer and try again. To completely remove it from your computer, be sure to empty the Recycle Bin.

If your computer says you are denied access

Sometimes you cannot delete a file because your account does not have rights to do this. In such cases, Windows reports that access is denied. To resolve this issue, you need to change the owner of the file. During the process, you may need the login and password for your PC administrator account.

To change access rights, right-click on the file and go to “Properties” → “Security” → “Advanced”. Near the “Owner” item, click “Edit”, then “Advanced” and “Search”. Select your current account from the list and click OK.

After doing this, you will most likely be able to delete the file as usual. If it doesn't work, try restarting your computer and trying again.

How to delete a file on macOS

If the Mac says the file is in use

First, manually close the applications in which you used this file and try to erase it again. They can interfere with uninstallation, as happens in Windows. If unsuccessful, restart your computer and repeat the removal.

If it doesn't work, enter safe mode. To do this, restart your Mac while holding down the Shift key. Try moving the file to the Recycle Bin and emptying it, then restart your computer as normal.

If the file cannot be deleted for other reasons

The file may not be deleted due to disk errors. Therefore, launch “Disk Utility” in the Finder → “Programs” → “Utilities” section and check the disk on which the file is located using the “First Aid” service.