Help please - how do you get rid of files in the recycle bin that won't delete?

[Democrat 4 Ever]

I have 17 large graphic files that I backed up to CDs months and months ago. For some reason they would not delete from the copy to CD folder. Kept getting a message they were being used by another program. Shut down program and try again. Of course, I have tried for months to get rid of these filed. Nothing running, etc. and couldn't get them out of queue to copy to a CD.

Well, today I finally got them moved from the copy to CD folder to the trash bin but I am now getting the same message that it is being used by another program and cannot remove from the trash bin. There is nothing (that I'm aware of) running and I really need to free up this space.

Any suggestions?

[canetoad]

1. May be something running that you cannot see

Try deleting the files in safe mode.

Reboot your computer, as it comes on, tap the F8 key. Start up is different, takes longer.
On the black screen with options, use arrow keys to select Safe Mode, hit enter.

If that doesn't work, there are free utilities to delete stubborn files.

[madokie]

2. Here is a free program to help you to do that

http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/

I've used it with good results

[Democrat 4 Ever]

3. Thanks for the info. Will try. n/t

[pokerfan]

4. I've used that!

Only in the wonderful world of Microsoft do you need to download a third party app in order to delete a file.

NTFS is evil.

[MyNameGoesHere]

5. They are temporary files

and therefore there is really nothing to delete. You should have had an option to "delete temporary files" when they are in the "to burn" queue. So by sending temp files to the recycle bin it just compounded the problem. The reason they are handled in this manner is that you can keep adding files until you are actually ready to burn. But in reality these are only cached files so they really aren't there.