Thread: cannot delete flash10d.ocx, flashutil10d.exe

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Posts
    250

    cannot delete flash10d.ocx, flashutil10d.exe

    I recently upgraded my IDE hard disk to a SATA one. Did a clean install of WinXP on the new disk, but still use the old disk for storage purposes. Now that I have everything set up, I decided to remove the 3 GB worth of windows folder on the old disk. Turns out that it won't let me delete either flash10d.ocx or flashutil10d.exe in the windows\system32\macromed\flash folder. Note that this folder is located on the OLD disk, not the new one that I use as primary disk... Tried removing the read-only attribute from the files (not that that matters on WinXP, but just a try), turns out it wouldn't let me change the permissions! I searched around on google, but sofar no luck, only a few posts here and there indicating that people are experiencing the exact same thing when trying to remove either of these two files. Now I'd just boot into my linux box and remove the file from there, but I'm still curious as to how Adobe manages to effectively deny me access to these files... Anyone have any clues?

  2. #2
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Posts
    412
    Just guessing here, but it sounds like you don't have the needed NTFS permissions to modify attributes or delete the files.
    Here's how you can check/change the permissions (I don't have XP any more so I'm going by memory here..)

    XP Pro:
    Go to folder options in explorer and make sure "use simple file sharing" is turned off
    Right-click the file or folder you want to change permissions for -> properties -> security tab.
    Add your own user or user group if it's not already in the list and set the permissions you want/need.

    XP Home:
    Same thing as pro, except you have to boot in safe mode to see the security tab.

  3. #3
    C++まいる!Cをこわせ!
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Inside my computer
    Posts
    24,654
    Actually, first make sure you are an administrator.
    Then, make yourself the owner of all files and subfolders.
    Then add full control access permissions to all files and subfolders.
    (Remember to explicitly replace all permissions of files and subfolders.)
    Now you should be able to delete them without trouble.
    And lastly, it's time to upgrade to Windows 7
    Quote Originally Posted by Adak View Post
    io.h certainly IS included in some modern compilers. It is no longer part of the standard for C, but it is nevertheless, included in the very latest Pelles C versions.
    Quote Originally Posted by Salem View Post
    You mean it's included as a crutch to help ancient programmers limp along without them having to relearn too much.

    Outside of your DOS world, your header file is meaningless.

  4. #4
    Registered User VirtualAce's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Posts
    9,607
    Are those running in the background? If so you won't be able to delete them. I can't see why they would be but it's a thought. If they are then boot in safe mode and remove them. Safe mode should only run the necessary programs which will allow you to delete programs that normally run at startup.

  5. #5
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Posts
    250
    Thank you all for the replies, however:

    * the disk this is sitting on is just a data disk (E:\ in this case), the OS files or anything else that is being executed or loaded or whatnot sits on my new primary disk (C:\). So, the files cannot be inaccessible because they are being used by a background or whatever other process.
    * I have tried changing access rights but windows won't let me. It fails with some kind of error message.

    And lastly, it's time to upgrade to Windows 7
    I actually run a fully legal non pirated version of windows xp that I actually paid money for and what did I get in return:
    * first time fresh install on a pc with a single clean hard disk. XP installer insisted it wanted to be installed on the L:\ drive. Of course there was no A:, no B:, no C:, no D:, no E:, all the way up to K:. So I let it, figuring it would sort itself out after actually booting the OS, but no, it insisted my primary and only drive was L:\. Have fun trying to install anything else after that, because stuff is expected to be found on the C:\...
    * second time, reinstall after previous failed attempt. First problem I ran into was that it is apparently no longer possible to just format your hard disk, because the installer insists that there is already a windows xp present and tries to repair it. Turns out I had to wipe the partition table manually, *sigh*. Install (on C:\ this time) went fine after sorting out the partition table magic thingy. Ran the OS, everything seemed to work fine, except that this great feature called sticky keys was active, as it apparently is active by default on any fresh xp install. No big deal, just disable it through accessibility options right? Wrong, ... installer somehow forgot to install the necessary accessibility options, so there was no way to turn these things off.
    * third install. Used the same procedure as before. Everything ran smoothly this time and everything seemed to work. However, after activating windows, which is required nowadays for some reason, it told me that I had to order a new copy of windows, because my hardware apparently changed to much and could not activate again on the same install key... Obviously, I am not going to line Microsoft's pockets again for something that should just be working in the first place, so I reinstalled windows every 30 days for 1 year. After 10 or so reinstalls, the messages just stopped, and it would let me activate my copy of windows with the install key again, even though my hardware hadn't changed. OK, fine by me.

    Anyway, to make a long story short:
    * Every time I reinstall from this *same* cd, I get a different install with different bugs, how is this even possible...
    * I am not going to buy another Microsoft product, let alone Windows, unless I really have to, e.g. this game I really want to play, doesn't work on XP. And since I am not into piracy, I am sticking with XP.

  6. #6
    C++まいる!Cをこわせ!
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Inside my computer
    Posts
    24,654
    Erm. Well, that's a nice story.
    Anyway, we need that error message. It's not going to help otherwise.
    Also, I don't know about XP, but as for activation of 7, I phoned Microsoft support once and transferred my license over to my new hardware. Easy as pie. That is, only if the online activation fails.
    And no... all stuff is not expect to be on C. I ran Windows on my H drive before, and everything was fine. Really.
    Quote Originally Posted by Adak View Post
    io.h certainly IS included in some modern compilers. It is no longer part of the standard for C, but it is nevertheless, included in the very latest Pelles C versions.
    Quote Originally Posted by Salem View Post
    You mean it's included as a crutch to help ancient programmers limp along without them having to relearn too much.

    Outside of your DOS world, your header file is meaningless.

  7. #7
    Registered User VirtualAce's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Posts
    9,607
    However, after activating windows, which is required nowadays for some reason,
    Wow where have you been? This has been the case for about 10 years now.

  8. #8
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Posts
    250
    Anyway, we need that error message. It's not going to help otherwise.
    Error message when trying to delete, is the standard message that you get when try to delete a file that can't be deleted:

    "Cannot delete <insert_your_filename_here>. Access is denied.

    Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is not currently in use."

    Well, the disk is certainly not full, and not write-protected. I cannot change the access permissions on the files however (not that that matters on XP home...), then I get the following error message:

    "An error occurred applying attributes to the file:

    <insert_filename_here>

    Access is denied."

    Weird thing, I just figured out that I am actually able to change the filename, but still cannot delete the file.

    Wow where have you been? This has been the case for about 10 years now.
    Stuck with 98 till 2005.

  9. #9
    C++まいる!Cをこわせ!
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Inside my computer
    Posts
    24,654
    That means you don't have permission to set security attributes. However, if you're an admin, you have the permission required to take ownership of all files. And the owner of a file can always set new attributes.
    So, back to my previous advice: set yourself as the owner of the files first. Then give yourself full permission over the files, then delete them.
    Quote Originally Posted by Adak View Post
    io.h certainly IS included in some modern compilers. It is no longer part of the standard for C, but it is nevertheless, included in the very latest Pelles C versions.
    Quote Originally Posted by Salem View Post
    You mean it's included as a crutch to help ancient programmers limp along without them having to relearn too much.

    Outside of your DOS world, your header file is meaningless.

  10. #10
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Posts
    250
    I am using XP home, there is no such thing as different user accounts. This is a single user system. I am administrator, I can do anything on this system. There is no concept of ownership.

    To illustrate: I can delete my entire C:\windows folder without a hitch, but am not able to delete these two files, whatever I do. I cannot change the file permissions, I cannot overwrite them. I cannot edit them with a hex editor.

    I did find that I can move (i.e. cut *not* copy) the files to another directory and delete them there. However, now I cannot delete the C:\windows\system32\flash directory. I cannot rename it, and I cannot move it. I can however change the folder attributes, but still unable to delete it.

  11. #11
    C++まいる!Cをこわせ!
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Inside my computer
    Posts
    24,654
    The concept of owner belongs to the NTFS file system. It has existed since long before XP.
    You need to take ownership of the files. Do it using the ownership tab.
    Then you can apply whatever security attributes you want and finally delete them.
    Quote Originally Posted by Adak View Post
    io.h certainly IS included in some modern compilers. It is no longer part of the standard for C, but it is nevertheless, included in the very latest Pelles C versions.
    Quote Originally Posted by Salem View Post
    You mean it's included as a crutch to help ancient programmers limp along without them having to relearn too much.

    Outside of your DOS world, your header file is meaningless.

  12. #12
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Posts
    250
    Do it using the ownership tab.
    I do not have one.

  13. #13
    C++まいる!Cをこわせ!
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Inside my computer
    Posts
    24,654
    There should be Properties -> Security tab -> Advanced button -> Owner tab. I believe it's been there in every OS.
    Quote Originally Posted by Adak View Post
    io.h certainly IS included in some modern compilers. It is no longer part of the standard for C, but it is nevertheless, included in the very latest Pelles C versions.
    Quote Originally Posted by Salem View Post
    You mean it's included as a crutch to help ancient programmers limp along without them having to relearn too much.

    Outside of your DOS world, your header file is meaningless.

  14. #14
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Posts
    250
    Quote Originally Posted by Elysia View Post
    There should be Properties -> Security tab -> Advanced button -> Owner tab. I believe it's been there in every OS.
    I know what tab you are talking about, but I don't have it on my system, never had it either, and that's exactly because it is a single user system. I have three tabs, and none of them is the security tab.

  15. #15
    C++まいる!Cをこわせ!
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Inside my computer
    Posts
    24,654
    The reason you don't have a security tab is because it's XP Home. The owner tab is there regardless of how many users you have.
    You would have to use a 3rd-party program to access the Security tab in XP Home. Or maybe try Safe Mode. Never tried it myself, but maybe it will work.
    Quote Originally Posted by Adak View Post
    io.h certainly IS included in some modern compilers. It is no longer part of the standard for C, but it is nevertheless, included in the very latest Pelles C versions.
    Quote Originally Posted by Salem View Post
    You mean it's included as a crutch to help ancient programmers limp along without them having to relearn too much.

    Outside of your DOS world, your header file is meaningless.

Popular pages Recent additions subscribe to a feed

Similar Threads

  1. BST delete again, but this time I think I'm close
    By tms43 in forum C++ Programming
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 11-05-2006, 06:24 PM
  2. delete and delete []
    By Lionel in forum C++ Programming
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 05-19-2005, 01:52 PM
  3. why is this prog crashing on delete?
    By Waldo2k2 in forum Windows Programming
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 12-04-2002, 11:17 PM
  4. Problem need help
    By Srpurdy in forum C++ Programming
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 07-24-2002, 12:45 PM
  5. memory management...
    By master5001 in forum Game Programming
    Replies: 24
    Last Post: 01-07-2002, 05:50 PM