have a computer problem

peppers · Post by **peppers** » Sat May 28, 2005 6:32 pm

apparently whenever you download a file with internet explorer named "weird."<as in missing the stuff to tell your computer what it is yet has the . will result in an error that caused invisible file named the same thing witch has no data behind it and is impossible to erase

how do I erase such a file?

and I donâ€™t want to hear any crap about fire fox I know it exists and I know its better but I still sometime use internet explorer

Post by **bicostp** » Sat May 28, 2005 6:55 pm

Sounds like a virus.

Or a corrupt system file.

[insert "get firefox and use it" stuff here, he gets it and has it but still uses IE occasionally.

]

Do you have your virus definitions updated?
Try running a program like ad-aware or Spybot.

So let me get this straight. When you download a file named, say, "i like pie.", with a period at the end, it makes a duplicate, invisible file? odd.

You're using Windows, right?

If so, try posting in my forum, in the "oh, @#$%" section. Total Eclipse ofthe Brain might be able to help you.

peppers · Post by **peppers** » Sat May 28, 2005 7:01 pm

its not a virus its a error in internet explorer and possipley firefox also never tryed it its not supose to be able to make a file called that but it can if you do not belive me hit save as on anything save it as "all files" then erace the last 3 letters and leave the dot and see for yourself

go ahead and post it in there for me if you find me a solution ill give you 1000 meat

Post by **bicostp** » Sat May 28, 2005 7:13 pm

Don't delete the 3 letters after the "."! They're the file extentions! That's what DOS (and subsequentially, Windows) use to recognize the type of file!

So if you saved "i like pie.lol" as "i like pie.", Windows won't know it's an .lol file.

Try not deleting those 3 charaters (aka the "file extention")

To get rid of the hidden file:

1. right-click it and select "properties"
2. uncheck ALL boxes in the "Attributes" section
3. Try deleting it again.

peppers · Post by **peppers** » Sat May 28, 2005 7:16 pm

wont work

Post by **bicostp** » Sat May 28, 2005 7:17 pm

What system are you running? (I've got Windows 2k SP4.)

I tried it with an MP3 (selected "all files" in the "type" box and deleted "mp3"), and I found no invisible file.

(yes, I have "show hidden files and folders" selected.)

peppers · Post by **peppers** » Sat May 28, 2005 7:18 pm

yes I read you edit and edited my post accordingley and that would not work there is no data behind the file so if you try to erace it youll get "cannot read sourse file or disk" and as far as anything on you computer is conserned its not there at all but it is

goodie · Post by **goodie** » Sat May 28, 2005 7:19 pm

When I tried to do what you said, Windows automatically removed the dot, so I don't really know how to get rid of it....

soundwave · Post by **soundwave** » Sat May 28, 2005 7:20 pm

How big is this file? and can you move it to a different folder?

peppers · Post by **peppers** » Sat May 28, 2005 7:23 pm

sence there is no data behind it it should be ovious that it is 0 bytes and it cant be moved cause it dose not exsist

sorry if I come off pissed off but I guess I kinda am no offence ment I welcome help

Post by **bicostp** » Sat May 28, 2005 7:25 pm

goodie wrote:When I tried to do what you said, Windows automatically removed the dot, so I don't really know how to get rid of it....

you have "hide file extentions" turned on, don't you?

peppers, have you tried deleting it from the DOS prompt? (if that doesn't work, boot off of a DOS floppy)

You may need a file deletion utility.

peppers · Post by **peppers** » Sat May 28, 2005 7:27 pm

yeh tryed all of those things

if one knows of a way to say delete the file but not the data behind it that would probubley work (im aware that data is not gone intell its saved over but I cannot find the correct works to discribe what I need)

soundwave · Post by **soundwave** » Sat May 28, 2005 7:31 pm

How about trying to move it to a floppy, burning the floppy, smashing the ashes, and throwing them on a beach, off a cliff, compress them into a diamond, shoot them into space, or whatever you please.

And if its so small and moveable, why not just put it in some BS folder, that no one in there sane mind would go to?

peppers · Post by **peppers** » Sat May 28, 2005 7:32 pm

peppers wrote:it cant be moved cause it dose not exsist

goodie · Post by **goodie** » Sat May 28, 2005 7:34 pm

It just hit me! You said it wouldn't delete the file because it is 0 bytes. Maybe we can fix that. Go to a dos prompt and type something like this:

Code: Select all

echo some random text > C:\weird.