question

43129026 avatar image
0 Votes"
43129026 asked CarlaGuintoVillanueva-9697 published

how to delete a pdf document from my Win 10 desktop?

I downloaded a pdf of a restaurant menu to my desktop today. The pdf has a ridiculously long name. See the length of the filename below... 109148-apznza1.pdf

APznzaafHW5jILt3lnNuDlrelZPvuH3EwWPEsu9QSU7CFMvvBfbrzaJKTipfiD3HzH_zrKLfQizJkJFi-YCBVJHuySjFDFV1pa8ypg0hTR9d5l-PDr2d0cr2B5yxUGfcMR9R3V0OThAPrWivOLTAqSRoR6szZULpeN0Tu1vGugDR9CCJ1VDP-hZXI183kQpa33MuG6E4NUdtLrLDjYQMlTaEqYCwB-MGbdwuKWTtOL9AfWI-dC_Nr93Zj03.pdf

I want to delete the file off my computer.

The file will not delete, it cannot be renamed, moved from the desktop, copied or pasted. It cannot be opened by any app except Google. I've tried Shift+delete, command prompt strings, Microsoft safe mode and CMD within safe mode.

Windows File explorer can see the file but, not open it. The file name displays in a Windows directory search but. will not open. Windows Notebook can see the file code.

Is there some tech guru with a nuclear option to delete this file?






windows-10-general
apznza1.pdf (1.4 MiB)
· 3
5 |1600 characters needed characters left characters exceeded

Up to 10 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 3.0 MiB each and 30.0 MiB total.

Same concern, but I couldn't erase it even after following the prompt - or maybe what I encoded was wrong? File name that shows is APznzabieuqtAMN3br4reokvdAu1mHQJI0eyFvfrHplAO_4fEAUcQGR58EAChovGVAQXgFHlTriZWqeMtmnUyD4wYESn2fbzJ8WhoCBnjXtqRvVkwbNzOLLkQSp_Sx-G0TIgOqfxt-LgY_ADfa-WKtSNX_Gn5Obtt6wgt6vQHPSZ2zdeqxO7iUV8wMrMvR2UM6gpFqnh4NMPVd6OZu-Eg_WXXpacXNzMu5ErOcIzlzoZWDhg91rom9JBSEe

Also, may I know if this is a bug/ virus?

Many thanks.

0 Votes 0 ·

Same concern, but I couldn't erase it even after following the prompt - or maybe what I encoded was wrong? File name that shows is APznzabieuqtAMN3br4reokvdAu1mHQJI0eyFvfrHplAO_4fEAUcQGR58EAChovGVAQXgFHlTriZWqeMtmnUyD4wYESn2fbzJ8WhoCBnjXtqRvVkwbNzOLLkQSp_Sx-G0TIgOqfxt-LgY_ADfa-WKtSNX_Gn5Obtt6wgt6vQHPSZ2zdeqxO7iUV8wMrMvR2UM6gpFqnh4NMPVd6OZu-Eg_WXXpacXNzMu5ErOcIzlzoZWDhg91rom9JBSEe

Also, may I know if this is a bug/ virus?

Many thanks.

0 Votes 0 ·
Docs-4663 avatar image Docs-4663 CarlaGuintoVillanueva-9697 ·

See this link:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.management/remove-item?view=powershell-7.2


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1 Vote 1 ·
IanXue-MSFT avatar image
2 Votes"
IanXue-MSFT answered IanXue-MSFT edited

Hi,

Please open PowerShell from the Start menu and try remove-item with `\\?` prepended to the file path. You can replace "C:\Users\Administrator\Desktop" with your own desktop path.

 Remove-Item '\\?\C:\Users\Administrator\Desktop\APznzaafHW5jILt3lnNuDlrelZPvuH3EwWPEsu9QSU7CFMvvBfbrzaJKTipfiD3HzH_zrKLfQizJkJFi-YCBVJHuySjFDFV1pa8ypg0hTR9d5l-PDr2d0cr2B5yxUGfcMR9R3V0OThAPrWivOLTAqSRoR6szZULpeN0Tu1vGugDR9CCJ1VDP-hZXI183kQpa33MuG6E4NUdtLrLDjYQMlTaEqYCwB-MGbdwuKWTtOL9AfWI-dC_Nr93Zj03.pdf'

109184-image.png

Best Regards,
Ian Xue
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image.png (17.2 KiB)
5 |1600 characters needed characters left characters exceeded

Up to 10 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 3.0 MiB each and 30.0 MiB total.

43129026 avatar image
0 Votes"
43129026 answered IanXue-MSFT commented

Wow, Ian...

your suggestion worked perfectly!
If you were here I'd shake your hand and buy you lunch and a beer 😃,

To all who read this, the 'cannot delete pdf file' issue has been around for years. The
solution offered by Ian truly is the answer. Follow his instructions and, poof!.. the file is gone.

👍👍👍👍👍

· 1
5 |1600 characters needed characters left characters exceeded

Up to 10 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 3.0 MiB each and 30.0 MiB total.

My pleasure. Please “Accept Answer” to help other community members find it more easily,

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