cannot delete programs from Downloaded Program Files

I am trying to remove some files from the windows/downloaded program file
folder in Vista and whether I chose delete or remove program file nothing
happens not even a message saying cannot delete so how do I delete them
please?

Have you tried booting into safe mode then delete files?

Try reinstalling the program, then, restart in Diagnostics Mode and try
uninstalling the application through Programs and Features in Control Panel.

Also give this a try before running System Restore:
Type "cmd" into the Search box above the Start Button>and when cmd comes up
at the top of the Start menu>right click cmd and click "run as Admin" and
when the cmd prompt comes up at the cmd prompt type "sfc /scannow" no quotes
and let it run. This may fix things quite a bit. It replaces corrupt files
with intact ones, if you're not familiar with it.

thanks just tried it still did work I particularly have one that is damaged
apparently (description 'Flash Ultra Shim' - I think it is adobe flash
player) and I cannot delete it no matter what.

You might try restarting Windows in safe mode and see whether you can delete
the file then.
-
In safe mode, some of the protective services which these programs use to
ensure that they aren't removed, are not running, so they are easier to
remºve.

thanks tried that and its still there - it was so easy to just delete
downloaded program files in XP I wonder why its not as easy in vista!

You need elevated privileges. Make sure Internet Explorer is closed. Click
start and type "Windows Explorer", then right click the start menu entry and
choose 'run as administrator'. Go to the download folder and try deleting
the unwanted files.

Often, before you can modify files or folders you need to take Ownership and
grant yourself Full Control permissions.

I also have a Downloaded Program File entry, that has "unknown status",
no creation date, and it says "none" under Last Accessed.
It does claim to be 4kb's in size.
This program file has no name, but instead, is a grouping of numbers
and letters, all enclosed in parenthese..{}.
Highlighting it, and right clicking it only brings up the properties of
the entry.
It cannot be deleted either from the keyboard, or from the
menu...File>delete..Edit>cut.
The properties of this entry show it to be an Active X control, (with
no creation date, no access date and no status. It does not appear to be
damaged...it does not say that there are any damaged files associated
with it).
The "codebase", reads,
http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get.../ultrashim.cab

Using my search bar to go to that location brings me to a folder, with
an apparent program that has yet to be installed.
There are 3 icons in this cab folder...a .dll icon, a
configuration/notepad icon with the name "erma", and the remaining icon
is an INSTALL icon.
Clicking on any of these icons brings up a command to "extract", or
copy.

I do vaguely remember going to macromedia.com, (adobe.com) a couple of
weeks ago, and downloading and installing the adobe flash player and the
shockwave player. I seem to remember that when I first began using my
new computer with the vista OS, that these needed to be updated or
installed to run some webpages, flash stuff, etc.
I do have a couple of games on my computer, that came with the
software, that are webtangent games called polarbear bowling and
polarbear golf, and Ive played them both.
But Im pretty sure this was downloaded at the same time I installed the
macromedia applications.

I would like to delete it. If it is a program file that needs to be run
with any of my applications, my computer would ask me to install it, is
that correct?
But I cannot find anyway to delete it.

What is this? Anyone know? Should I leave it alone? Should I install,
or extract, the program? How do I find out what "erma" is?

Anyone who has encountered this same thing, or knows what the heck it
is, I would be grateful for some help, some advice.

I think the problem is that what you are viewing are not really files, but instead part of the registry codestore. Backup your registry, view the details of the damaged files, copy the hash (number in brackets), search for that term using the Find in regedit, remove the entry.