I use the Pictures folder alot on my Vista based computer, and recently I was
sorting through some of the pictures, deciding which ones to keep and which
to delete. Most of these I have copied from my digital camera, and some I
have downloaded from the web. Well, after having gone through them all, there
is at least one in particular that I cannot seem to delete. I don't want it
to just be sent to the Recycle Bin, but completely erased from the computer.
I have discounted any viruses or spyware, and checked all my 'Folder'
settings, but nothing I can think of to do will remove this file from the
folder. It also does not actually show up in normal viewing, only if i do a
search using special variables. It only shows up if I type, "*.jpg" into the
search bar when I am viewing the directory. I can't however do anything with
the file. I can't move it, I can't rename it, and while it shows a thumbnail
image of the photo, when I click on it to open it, the picture viewer shows
no photo-representation. I also can't replace it with another file with the
same exact name. How do I permanently remove this one file? And how did it
get to the point of being undeletable. File properties do not show that it is
'hidden' or 'read only'.

Thank you

JohnL wrote:
I use the Pictures folder alot on my Vista based computer, and
recently I was sorting through some of the pictures, deciding which
ones to keep and which to delete. Most of these I have copied from my
digital camera, and some I have downloaded from the web. Well, after
having gone through them all, there is at least one in particular
that I cannot seem to delete. I don't want it to just be sent to the
Recycle Bin, but completely erased from the computer. I have
discounted any viruses or spyware, and checked all my 'Folder'
settings, but nothing I can think of to do will remove this file from
the folder. It also does not actually show up in normal viewing, only
if i do a search using special variables. It only shows up if I type,
"*.jpg" into the search bar when I am viewing the directory. I can't
however do anything with the file. I can't move it, I can't rename
it, and while it shows a thumbnail image of the photo, when I click
on it to open it, the picture viewer shows no photo-representation. I
also can't replace it with another file with the same exact name. How
do I permanently remove this one file? And how did it get to the
point of being undeletable. File properties do not show that it is
'hidden' or 'read only'.

Thank you
====================================
Maybe you could delete the file in safe mode:

Windows Vista -
What Is Safe Mode
http://tinyurl.com/2mpeef
or...
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...354a81033.mspx

Windows Vista -
Start your computer in safe mode
http://tinyurl.com/397vhf
or...
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...904a11033.mspx

Maybe the following freebie would be useful...
after installing...right click the offending file
and choose Unlocker.

Unlocker
http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/

One more possible...if this thumbnail is showing
up when you are using Windows Photo Gallery...
it may be worth a try to rename or delete the
Pictures.pd4 database file.

This database named "Pictures.pd4" includes
thumbs and metadata and is found at the
following location.

C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\
Windows Photo Gallery\Pictures.pd4

The file can also be found with an Advanced
Search for pd4.

Go to...Start / Search / Advanced Search.

Check the box..."Include non-indexed, hidden,
and system files" Enter pd4 in the Name field
and left click the Search button.

Rename the file to Pictures.OLD and the next
time you open Photo Gallery it should be as it
was the first time you opened it.

--

John Inzer
Digital Media MVP

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

hello john,

i did try safe mode i believe, and while i dont remember what happened, i do
recall that the file either didnt appear at all, or still would not delete

do you have any other suggestions?

"John Inzer" wrote:
====================================
Maybe you could delete the file in safe mode:

Windows Vista -
What Is Safe Mode
http://tinyurl.com/2mpeef
or...
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...354a81033.mspx

Windows Vista -
Start your computer in safe mode
http://tinyurl.com/397vhf
or...
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...904a11033.mspx

Maybe the following freebie would be useful...
after installing...right click the offending file
and choose Unlocker.

Unlocker
http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/

One more possible...if this thumbnail is showing
up when you are using Windows Photo Gallery...
it may be worth a try to rename or delete the
Pictures.pd4 database file.

This database named "Pictures.pd4" includes
thumbs and metadata and is found at the
following location.

C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\
Windows Photo Gallery\Pictures.pd4

The file can also be found with an Advanced
Search for pd4.

Go to...Start / Search / Advanced Search.

Check the box..."Include non-indexed, hidden,
and system files" Enter pd4 in the Name field
and left click the Search button.

Rename the file to Pictures.OLD and the next
time you open Photo Gallery it should be as it
was the first time you opened it.

--

John Inzer
Digital Media MVP

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

John,

I am having the exact same problem with a jpg file that still shows up
on search. Were you ever able to find a solution.

Thanks,


--
bludenim

On Fri, 4 Jul 2008 08:25:36 -0500, bludenim
wrote:


John,

I am having the exact same problem with a jpg file that still shows up
on search. Were you ever able to find a solution.

Have you tried playing with system restore yet?

John

Me also havving the same problem ..can you provide few more suggestions


--
sag

sag wrote:
John

Me also havving the same problem ..can you provide few more
suggestions
==========================
Right Click / Delete.


--

John Inzer

You can add an option using WinBubble to Take the Ownership of a file or
folder.
Maybe This is because of Access Permissions in the file.
http://unlockforus.blogspot.com/2007...folder-in.html

If that don't work... Search for a program called Unlocker.

I hope this helps...

Enjoy using Windows Vista.


"John Inzer" wrote:

sag wrote:
John

Me also havving the same problem ..can you provide few more
suggestions
==========================
Right Click / Delete.


--

John Inzer

Sag, I took a sample Windows jpeg image of landscape and saved it with
the same file name and location as the more embarrassing photo that I
wanted to delete. It overwrote the image and I was then able to delete
it. If it ever shows up again, at least it won't be embarrassing but
will only show landscape.


--
bludenim

HI Bludenim,

Thanks very much for your solution..i have tried in another way of
rebuilding the Index file ..it also worked ..just want to share with you
about this.

Thanks again for your concern


--
sag