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When I ran a virus scan a few days ago, my beloved Norton warned of a A180 Spyware type Virus Threat, but failed to act on my attempt to delete the HDplugin1101.dll file, and wonderful Windows XP Home refused to display the hidden files in the Windows/Downloaded Program Files, which Norton insisted was in there.

So I activated my trusty old PCA DOS filemanager and navigated to the relative Directory, and there sure enough were the two nasty HDplugin110.dll and HDplugin1101.inf files, which it dutifully deleted for me without any problem. So the moral is if anyone has problems persuading quaint Windows to delete any files or Directories, then try this nice little Freeware program I have put on my site below.

What will happen when MS decide to abandon support for these little DOS programs with some marvellous new versions of Windows – who knows? I understand clever programmers can devise software to enable the likes of me to continue to use old DOS software.

Gordon
http://sionet.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/PCA.zip

You can configure Windows Explorer to show system and hidden files. By default it hides system files and doesn't show hidden files. I think this is done in this way so n00bs don't go kinda "Hey, I found MSVCRT6.DLL! This file is not mine, let's delete it!". But you can easily change that behaviour.

Plus a MSDOS program will not be of much help if your partition is in the NTFS format unless it is ran from the NTVDM. Which is not advised 'cause MSDOS programs can do funny stuff to modern HDDs.

90% of Windows faults are, in fact, user faults.

Thanks,

If I ever get that problem again I will temproarily change the Files View not to hide Operating System Files, though I do not know if that will then allow Norton as well as Windows to delete Spyware etc.

Gordon

bah! just pop in a knoppix cd and you're set

Quote:bah! just pop in a knoppix cd and you're set

Damn straight! Or System Rescue CD.

Why don't you turn on the option to show hidden and OS files? That's one of the first things I do after installing Windows... you can't complain that Windows isn't letting you do things if you've still got baby protection on.

-shiftLynx

Because other users might use the computer, users who may not have as much of a computer know-how. Then they might do like Na_th_an said.

I still think the safest way is my PCA DOS file manager, if necessary boot up under DOS first, as I assume some crafty **** will eventaully create a virus or spyware that cannot be deleted using Windows.

So I am going to use the two Window Basics I have to create Filmanagers that display and if necessary delete ANY file whatever the attibutes.

Gordon