Read Only Folders and Files on external hard drive

[Beothuk]

I am currently installed the Windows 7 operating system on my computer. I am 120 Gb hard disk on my computer in this there are upto 80 GB data which can I able to delete but I have external hard drive in this there are some files and folder which I cannot able to delete. When I try to delete this files and folders then message appears that this only read only files. Please help me to solve my problem.

[Devasis]

This is can be issue with a virus in the drive. It is good if you can scan your pc with a good antivirus. Do not just directly move or copy the files. Boot your pc in safe mode and then try to scan it with a good antivirus. There are chances that your system might get infected really fast. So here the first thing you must do is scan and then move the files. Some antivirus might directly delete the file without asking you.

[MrChris-]

If Windows cannot delete a file or folder , the cause may be one of the following:

• The file or folder to be deleted is used by a system process
• The folder contains files or delete hidden files
• The file or folder is read-only
• The file system on the hard disk has errors
• The system is infected by a virus
• The hard drive is faulty ( hardware problems )
• The file or folder belongs to another user who has not left the rights to delete this file.

[Devasis]

Windows may display one of the following error messages :

• Error deleting file or folder
• Cannot delete file : Access is denied
• The source or destination file 'may be in use .
• The file is in. Another use by program or user.
• Make sure the disk is not full or write protected and that the file is not currently used

[Eber]

To am having a permanent solution to deal with the issue. For that you have to edit Windows registry files.

- Open the registry editor
=> Start menu , Run ... and type regedit )
- Find HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE / Classes / CLSID / { 87D62D94 - 71B3 - 4b9a - 9489 - 5FE6850DC73E }
- It 'll just delete the value InProcServer32 .

[singhnetserferX]

this kind of situations occurs when your system is infected by virus(trojans).right click on those files and remove their read only ttributes in properties page and restart pc in safe mode now you can delete them.
you may use unlocker.