I posted this on another forum but I'm copying and pasting everything that has gone on at that forum into here so I can try and get some more help. Here is the transcript: Posted by: Jasper44 Aug 27 2006, 02:00 I have a file on my computer that won't delete. I think it got there by being downloaded through limewire. When you right click on it there is no delete option in the drop down menu. The file won't delete, rename, or move anywere. I tried Moveonboot but when i select the file it says invalid file name so that program wont get rid of it. It is a jpeg and the file name is really long. I tried the command prompt to get rid of it but it didnt work, but i also dont think i was doing it right. Does anyone have any ideas? Safe mode doesnt work either. Its not one of those files that says access denied you just simply cant delete it. There is no option and it wont drag anywhere so when you drag it to recycle nothing happens. Posted by: -pops- Aug 27 2006, 05:43 One of the continuing dangers of using P2P programs. Can you do a System Restore to a time before this installed itself? Do you have a backup of your system? All computers should have a backup. For computers that use file sharing a backup is especially important as you're constantly exposed to dangers such as this - and possibly worse. Is this file actually a jpeg? Does it open to a picture? All sorts of nasties can appear to have an innocent file extension when in fact it is just a disguise for something a lot more sinister. What antivirus/anti-malware programs do you use? Posted by: Alexis Blaze Aug 27 2006, 15:31 sounds like a JPEG OF DEATH.... i don't really know much about it though.... i heard that it is a new type of virus... usually virus only attack executable files like exe, com, etc... but JPEG OF DEATH attack JPEG files by modifying the JPEG header... Posted by: cozofdeath Aug 27 2006, 20:12 This is very interesting. After scanning for malware try starting in safe mode and opening your task manage (ctrl+alt+del), click the Processes tab and close everything but needed to run processes like alg, svchost, smss, csrss, svchost, and lsass. Then close explorer.exe, everthing will disapear except the background. Then while the task manager is still open click the Applications tab then New Task and type in CMD then hit enter. That will give you the command prompt. After that enter this into the command prompt "ren C:\path\jpegfile newname". Ren renames the file, path is the path to the file yours will be different depending on where the file is and jpegname is the pictures name, newname is whatever you want to make the new name be. After that enter "del C:\path\newjpegname" and it should delete it. If that doesn't work I would open it in a hex editor and delete all of the files contents. It sort of seems like something else is not letting you delete or move the file. Like a running process/service or startup program. So post back if nothing here works. Posted by: Jasper44 Yesterday, 00:10 I tried system restore and that got rid of other stuff i downloaded before the restore point but not the jpeg. Ill try your method when i can cozofdeath and get back to you. Posted by: Jasper44 Yesterday, 06:32 Ok, when I open the command prompt it says C:\Documents and Settings\Chris so I typed what you told me to after that and it says the syntax of the command is incorrect. I typed C:\folder\folder\filename newfilename and it gave me the error. Posted by: nellie2 Yesterday, 18:49 Jasper, is your system fully patched? The Jpeg of death exploit is a pretty old one http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/update/bulletins/200409_jpeg_tool.mspx Posted by: Jasper44 Today, 02:48 I went to that site and downloaded the patch for windows xp service pack 2 and when I go to install it, it says the program to be updated can't be found huh.gif ...this thing is driving me crazy. Norton won't scan the file because it says invalid file name when you click on it to scan it. Am I just stuck with it forever? What is the hex editing? Posted by: cozofdeath Today, 03:09 Where is the file? Could you post the path to it and the file name, like ex.(C:\documents and settings\chris\desktop\longa$$filenameforjpgfile.jpg) Posted by: Jasper44 Today, 04:24 The location is C:\documents and settings\chris\desktop\'\downloads\longa$$filenameforjpgfile.jpg Can anyone read this and throw out some more ideas on how to get rid of it. I guess it doesn't really matter that its stuck there, I can deal with that, unless it is some type of virus, but I don't know if it is or not.
You'll have to use a program to force the file to be renamed. You can get it here: http://www.replsoft.com/cutlongnames.html Once you get the file name to be shortened, you should then be able to get rid of it.
