How to Delete Infected Write Protected Files in Windows XP

After your computer has suffered a major virus like the infamous Trojan worm, you likely need to delete certain infected files immediately in order to protect your hardware. Sometimes after running a scan with spyware software like McAfee, there may still be infected files that the software did not catch. After you've found these files and try to delete them you may receive a pop-up message that says, "Write-Protected File, Can't Delete." Before doing a complete system restore, try some quick troubleshooting solutions.

Instructions

1. Go to your task manager by pressing "Control", "Alt" and "Delete" at the same time on your keyboard.

2. Click on the "Processes" tab and then right-click on the Internet Explorer icon. In the menu, select the "End Processes" option and click the "Save" button.

3. Click on the 'File" at the top of the pop-up and click on the "New Task Run" option. Click on the "Browse" button in the new pop-up window that appears.

4. Find the file on your system that you'd previously couldn't delete. Right-click on the file and try to delete it.

5. If the file does not delete, try downloading and installing the Unlocker application (See Resources). After installed, right-click on the file you can't delete and click on the "Unlocker" option. In the pop-up window, click the "Delete" option from the drop-down menu. Then select "Unlock All" and click the "Unlock" button. You should now be able to delete the file if you were not able to after completing Step 4.

Tips & Warnings

• If necessary, restore your entire system and save all important files to a back-up drive or disk. Once restored the file should no longer be on your system.

References

• HOW TO: Delete an Undeletable or Locked File
• How To Delete Write Protected Files?, Trojans and PUPs

Resources

• Unlocker