Cannot delete file - cyclic redundancy check?

[Mockery]

There's a random picture on my computer (from a series of pics I took) and for some reason, it won't let me delete this one picture. When I try to I get the following error:

Cannot delete [filename]: Data error (cyclic redundancy check)

What's causing this and should I be worried?

[MetalMilitia]

CRC is basically a method of determining whether a file is free from errors. It's strange that a CRC error would prevent you from deleting a file but I would not worry about it too much.

Unfortunatly I cannot suggest much more than booting into safemode and trying to delete the file again. Alternativly there could be a command line switch which disables CRC while performing the delete operation.

[soundtest]

Do you get this error just in Explorer or if you try to delete it from the command line too?

[Mockery]

Yeah, if I go to the DOS command prompt and try to delete it, the same error occurs. I can't view the picture anymore either, not that that's important since i was trying to delete it along with a bunch of other pics. Still, I can't remove this temporary directory until I'm able to delete that pic.

[soundtest]

That sucks. If trying to delete it in safe mode like MM suggested doesn't get rid of it you might want to try running CHKDSK to see if it can repair it.

In the command line or in the Start->Run box type:

chkdsk /r

Also, some people seem to think that CRC errors are a sign that the hard disk is more prone to crashing in the future. I don't really have any experience with them so I don't know how accurate of an assessment that is... but backing up never hurts. Right Chojin?

[kahljorn]

try renaming it then deleting it if possible.

[Archduke Tips]

Run scan disk. Sounds like a bad memory block.

[MLE]

honestly, if you can't delete it, you most likely will not be able to rename it either

[kahljorn]

thanks for the positive input MLE but there's a few things you can commonly do when you're trying to delete something that won't delete and that's one of them.

They also make "shredder" programs that permanantly delete a file without having to send it to the recycle bin (it breaks the file apart or something then deletes it) . Usually they come with virus scanners and stuff like that.

http://www.tucows.com/preview/213647

here's one but who knows how well it will work ;/ the one i had came with some anti-spyware/virus software. It's basically so you can delete programs that normally can't be deleted because of permissions and such, but maybe it would help with CRC.

[Mockery]

Actually, I found a bunch more files like that in random places on my HD. :/ Not sure what to do about this situation.

[kahljorn]

try the file shredding/renaming. I've had problems with files before and the way I got rid of them was (for example) renaming, deleting, moving, deleting again, renaming, moving etc. Or with the shredder i sometimes shredded them quite a few times before it would properly delete them, but eventually it worked (my shredder was in an anti-virus program it's supposed to be used for files you can't access at all, so I'd assume it'd get rid of crc files). Usually i did this for access errors which is probably why the renaming and moving thing worked, but i see no reason why the shredder shouldn't be able to shred crc erred files.
there might even be some program affiliated with CRC that could help.

[Pub Lover]

I've found that files that refuse to be deleted can be gotten rid of after a restart, if you haven't tried that yet. :/


in

[FartinMowler]

in :/

[AChimp]

Run chkdsk like soundtest recommended.

[RectalWart]

I have an email in Outlook (not express) that I can't delete. Any hints what I can try?

[Yggdrasill]

I had the same problem with undeletable files once. I tried everything and in the end I ended up compressing the folder and then I could delete it. Not very techy but it worked somehow.

[Archduke Tips]

Originally Posted by kahljorn

They also make "shredder" programs that permanantly delete a file without having to send it to the recycle bin (it breaks the file apart or something then deletes it) . Usually they come with virus scanners and stuff like that.

The file "shredder" programs actually just erase the data from memory, and then usually will write all 1s or all 0s to the memory blocks (or some random combination), and repeat that for however many "shreds" you want, and then clear the memory when it is done.

That way it is nearly impossible to recover the data. If you simply delete a file, it will remain on your hard drive until the data is reallocated, and it is fairly easy to recover it.

[kahljorn]

hmm.. so does that mean it would help? I wasn't sure how it worked exactly but i did manage to get rid of some spyware with it that i couldn't get rid of normally.l

[Archduke Tips]

In your case, the spyware was probably getting restored every time you deleted it, so when you shredded it, there was no file left to be restored.

From what Rog has said, it appears that he has a bad memory block or there is a problem with the allocation table. Either way, the standard check disk program should be able to fix the problem.

If it doesn't, then it might indicate that your hard drive is physically damaged and the memory block can not be repaired. Usually when you start seeing lots of bad memory blocks, it is time to replace the hard drive.

[Mockery]

But, but... we've been through so much together, me and my hard drive.