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by Matthew Skelly Matthew Skelly No Comments

Cannot read from the source file or disk – undeletable

Problem:

File shows up in a folder, but any attempt to delete, rename or move it results in : “Error Deleting File or Folder – Cannot delete file: Cannot read from the source file or disk“.

If it’s a folder, no hidden files are inside it. You can read and write to it. No permissions error, and the file/folder is not set as hidden or read only in properties.

Dropping down to a DOS prompt and trying a DEL, DELTREE, or RN return the same error.

Solution:

This is caused by an invalid character in the file name. Possibly a dot or a space (Spaces are really hard to spot – they’re invisible. But try a rename and just use the arrow keys in the rename box. If there’s a space at the end, the arrow key will find it and move one character past the last letter). Normally Windows will not let you create something with an invalid character in the name, but it can happen if you’re in a system remotely and the connection gets cut off, or if there’s corruption on the Hard disk, or if the file was created by a Mac and then some how transferred over to the system.

I ran across a couple of possible solutions from the command prompt, but if your file has a space in the name, especially in the middle of the name, you won’t be able to run them.  Tried a couple of tools, “Killbox” returned a similar error – that the file dosen’t appear to exist. Finally came across “Unlocker”. This app will force a delete of the file. Start up the program and use it’s interface to browse to the file / folder in question (local or network drive, it doesn’t matter. as long as you can browse to it, the application can work with it), and from the actions list select “Delete”. File is immediately deleted. There’s also a “Rename” and a “Move” option. if your trying to preserve the file.

by Matthew Skelly Matthew Skelly No Comments

Rebuild Boot Configuration File Windows 7

 

Problem:

Post rootkit removal windows may not boot and display 7B stop error. This CLI command set can rebuild files necessary for windows 7 to boot

Solution:

>bcdedit /export C:BCD_BU
>C:
>cd boot
>attrib bcd -s -h -r
>ren C:bootbcd bcd.old
>bootrec /rebuildbcd

by Matthew Skelly Matthew Skelly No Comments

Stuck on a Pop Up!

Problem:
Ever have one of those terrible pop ups “YOUR COMPUTER IS INFECTED!!!!!” trap you on a page while it blares loud warnings that the FBI is coming to raid your house and steal you cat? It happens to every one of my clients sooner or later. So how do you get out of it?

Solution:

It’s a CTRL-ALT-DEL and kill the browser. But there’s a catch! Most browsers will offer to “restore session” when you bring it back up. DON’T! That’ll bring back the ad. Just start a new sessions and head back to your browsing!

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