Unable to Delete: Could not read from the source file or disk

Asked By Patty Swan 0 points N/A Posted on - 07/06/2011

I love my computer and I always clean this. Also I don't want to download things that are not necessary, so this will be virus free. Even the files, I don't want it much loaded thus I always delete unnecessary folders.

Until this moment, I encountered an error stating Error Deleting File or folder; Cannot delete File: Cannot read from the source file or disk. I'm the only one using this computer, that's why I knew what are stored in my computer.

Now, I was really wondering what the problem with my computer is.

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• Question Category: Windows XP

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Answered By Shawn Pores 0 points N/A #81465

Unable to Delete: Could not read from the source file or disk

Hello,

Here are some suggestions that may help you regarding your problem.

If file is an application just press Ctrl+Alt+Det at a time for the ''Windows Task Manager'' to be open. Followed by clicking the process tab then you can select the application.

Right then after, right click the application menu and select end process and a dialogue box will be opened. Please select Okay then close the application normally.

If file is a folder then it is caused by a virus. Go to your safe mode window and delete the folder.

If presence of folder still persists, you have to download a licensed anti-virus program to scan your computer. Just don't forget top update the anti-virus program prior scanning. 

I hope I have helped you.

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• Posted on - 07/06/2011
• Question Category: Windows XP

Answered By martin rb 0 points N/A #81466

Unable to Delete: Could not read from the source file or disk

Hello friend, this type of problem occurs for some reason, I will suggest following some step for this problem. Follow this instruction.

1. When you don’t have the permission for a specific file or folder then you won’t be able to access that file or folder. To access that file or folder you have to ask the owner of the file. Otherwise make sure about the file is that file open?
2. It also happen when the program  file is being used. So first fined the open file then close that file or folder and try to delete the file or folder. If you still fail to delete the file then restart your computer and try again.
3. You have to close all open programs and try to delete the folder if not work then try again. Another program was using a file which exists in that folder, so it prevent to delete the file or folder.

Let's try that step and solve your problem.

 Thanks

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• Posted on - 07/09/2011
• Question Category: Windows XP

Answered By ayegired 5 points N/A #81467

Unable to Delete: Could not read from the source file or disk

Our sharable files produced some non-delete-able file. This error message comes up while deleting them:

Error Deleting File or Folder – Cannot delete file: Cannot read from the source file or disk“. This message in Windows 7 is “Could not find this item: This is no longer located in C:Blah. Verify the item’s location and try again” or something like.

Checking permission of this file and CHKDSK produced no result. 

 

It was found that the file name has a dot(.) at the end, like “C:TempStuffSales Agreement. “. This is an invalid file name for windows. So though it is shown, the Windows API denies its existence. 

 

But how this file was created? It was created by Mac. This file was shared and some MAC user accessed it. Thereby creating such file. Moreover, NTFS file system allows all sorts of file naming that Windows API doesn’t allow. 

 

But if you use \? as a prefix , Win32 will ignore these checks (example: C:TempSomeFile.txt becomes \?C:TempSomeFile.txt) thanks to this blog post about long paths in .NET.

 

So by typing del "\?C:TempStuffSales Agreement." at the command prompt the file was deleted.

Note: On Windows 7 use wildcards instead of \? (del c:tempsomefil*)

 

If it’s a folder/directory use the rd or rmdir command, e.g.:

rd /s ""\?C:Documents and SettingsUserDesktopAnnoying Folder.

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• Posted on - 07/22/2011
• Question Category: Windows XP

Answered By faiyazbushido 0 points N/A #81468

Unable to Delete: Could not read from the source file or disk

There are a couple of ways to delete a file you could try:

1. Download a software called Unlocker. It should allow you to delete the problematic file.

2. Try deleting the file using command prompt. If it doesn’t work it usually means that the name is too long, too corrupted or there are some unusual characters in the name. If so then try renaming the file and then deleting.

If renaming is not allowed then open command prompt, go to the folder and run a DIR/ x command in order to find the file’s short name. Use that short name to delete.

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• Posted on - 12/01/2012
• Question Category: Windows XP