winamp.exe cannot be deleted

screwballl · 15th June 2006, 22:08

For starters I am a computer tech and this has me baffled.
I uninstalled 5.21 the normal way but it left behind only the winamp.exe file, nothing else. When I go to that folder and try to manually delete the file it will not delete. "Error deleting file or folder, cannot delete winamp: access is denied make sure disk is not write protected yada yada"
If I double click it, it starts up the basic winamp window showing version 5.21 and adds a few files to the folder. I went into the registry to see if there was something small preventing the end user from deleting it, nothing found but I did delete the nullsoft registry key after this problem occured. It is not running as a process or application, will not delete even after restarting the system several times.
I tried opening a cmd window and deleting it from command line "del /f winamp.exe" and I get the message "Access is Denied". The system is clean of spyware/malware, is clean of viruses and is a fairly new OS install (about 30 days). No plugins used. Signed in under admin account of course but it does this even on the other admin account as well.

WinXP Pro SP2
AthlonXP3000+
1.5GB PC3200
160GB hd, 100 GB free; WD1600JB "good health"

Next try is for safe mode and/or command line uninstall from recovery console.

I already reinstalled 5.23 into the C:/Progfiles/Winamp5 folder and it works fine.

DJ Egg · 15th June 2006, 22:43

Strange.

You could try using Killbox to delete the file on reboot.

http://www.subratam.org/main/index.p...d=19&Itemid=41
http://www.downloads.subratam.org/KillBox.zip
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/files/killbox.php
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Securit...-Killbox.shtml

Synvb · 16th June 2006, 16:39

Do you have any programs running that read the icon from the EXE file? AquaDock and ObjectDock are two that I know of that hog the file so that they cannot be deleted. Just trying to help for the future frustration.

MarkRH · 16th June 2006, 21:31

Might also right-click on the file, check properties, security tab, and see what rights you have to the file. Might even click the Advanced Button and see if Delete has been unchecked for your account/group.

This would prevent you from Deleting It...

I highly doubt this is the reason since you've tried multiple Admin accounts... but I've seen the Administrators group removed from the access list in the past when working on systems here at work.

I suspect something more along the lines of what Synvb said.. let us know what you find out.

screwballl · 17th June 2006, 02:41

Synvb, I do not have any dock programs and no programs accessing the exe file.

MarkRH, As it is under the admin name I had full access rights to the file.

I got it deleted; I restarted into safe mode with command prompt and deleted the file that way.

Still confusing but oh well it is taken care of now.

erikss0n · 26th June 2006, 18:25

Quote:

Originally posted by Synvb
Do you have any programs running that read the icon from the EXE file? AquaDock and ObjectDock are two that I know of that hog the file so that they cannot be deleted. Just trying to help for the future frustration.

I can add another one that caused my problems...

YzDock

Thanks for the help on this one...

screwballl · 27th June 2006, 14:03

aha I did some digging and although I do have Yz Dock installed it was not running... or so I thought... I got the message saying to install the latest virsion and after looking around and not seeing Yz Dock running that I could see I attempted the install. Same message. So after doing some digging I found the process running in the background but not opened. Stopped the process and all is fixed.

So the Dock programs may still be running in the background if the program will not uninstall/install.

Problem solved (for me)

15th June 2006, 22:08	#1
screwballl Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3	winamp.exe cannot be deleted For starters I am a computer tech and this has me baffled. I uninstalled 5.21 the normal way but it left behind only the winamp.exe file, nothing else. When I go to that folder and try to manually delete the file it will not delete. "Error deleting file or folder, cannot delete winamp: access is denied make sure disk is not write protected yada yada" If I double click it, it starts up the basic winamp window showing version 5.21 and adds a few files to the folder. I went into the registry to see if there was something small preventing the end user from deleting it, nothing found but I did delete the nullsoft registry key after this problem occured. It is not running as a process or application, will not delete even after restarting the system several times. I tried opening a cmd window and deleting it from command line "del /f winamp.exe" and I get the message "Access is Denied". The system is clean of spyware/malware, is clean of viruses and is a fairly new OS install (about 30 days). No plugins used. Signed in under admin account of course but it does this even on the other admin account as well. WinXP Pro SP2 AthlonXP3000+ 1.5GB PC3200 160GB hd, 100 GB free; WD1600JB "good health" Next try is for safe mode and/or command line uninstall from recovery console. I already reinstalled 5.23 into the C:/Progfiles/Winamp5 folder and it works fine.

15th June 2006, 22:43	#2
DJ Egg Techorator Winamp & Shoutcast Team Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 35,894	Strange. You could try using Killbox to delete the file on reboot. http://www.subratam.org/main/index.p...d=19&Itemid=41 http://www.downloads.subratam.org/KillBox.zip http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/files/killbox.php http://www.softpedia.com/get/Securit...-Killbox.shtml Playlist -\|- Twitter

16th June 2006, 21:31	#4
MarkRH Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 479	Might also right-click on the file, check properties, security tab, and see what rights you have to the file. Might even click the Advanced Button and see if Delete has been unchecked for your account/group. This would prevent you from Deleting It... I highly doubt this is the reason since you've tried multiple Admin accounts... but I've seen the Administrators group removed from the access list in the past when working on systems here at work. I suspect something more along the lines of what Synvb said.. let us know what you find out. Mark H. System Information \| Old Winamp Info \| WACUP Info Older MIDI input plugin that supports auto loading SoundFonts

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16th June 2006, 16:39	#3
Synvb Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 12	Do you have any programs running that read the icon from the EXE file? AquaDock and ObjectDock are two that I know of that hog the file so that they cannot be deleted. Just trying to help for the future frustration.

17th June 2006, 02:41	#5
screwballl Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3	Synvb, I do not have any dock programs and no programs accessing the exe file. MarkRH, As it is under the admin name I had full access rights to the file. I got it deleted; I restarted into safe mode with command prompt and deleted the file that way. Still confusing but oh well it is taken care of now.

27th June 2006, 14:03	#7
screwballl Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3	aha I did some digging and although I do have Yz Dock installed it was not running... or so I thought... I got the message saying to install the latest virsion and after looking around and not seeing Yz Dock running that I could see I attempted the install. Same message. So after doing some digging I found the process running in the background but not opened. Stopped the process and all is fixed. So the Dock programs may still be running in the background if the program will not uninstall/install. Problem solved (for me)