File.Delete Method

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When it is called by trusted applications, deletes the specified file. An exception is not thrown if the specified file does not exist.

Namespace:  System.IO
Assembly:  mscorlib (in mscorlib.dll)

Syntax

'Declaration
<SecuritySafeCriticalAttribute> _
Public Shared Sub Delete ( _
    path As String _
)
[SecuritySafeCriticalAttribute]
public static void Delete(
    string path
)

Parameters

Exceptions

Exception Condition
ArgumentException

path is a zero-length string, contains only white space, or contains one or more invalid characters as defined by GetInvalidPathChars.

ArgumentNullException

path is nulla null reference (Nothing in Visual Basic).

DirectoryNotFoundException

The specified path is invalid, (for example, it is on an unmapped drive).

IOException

The specified file is in use.

-or-

There is an open handle on the file, and the operating system is Windows XP or earlier. This open handle can result from enumerating directories and files.

NotSupportedException

path is in an invalid format.

PathTooLongException

The specified path, file name, or both exceed the system-defined maximum length. For example, on Windows-based platforms, paths must be less than 248 characters, and file names must be less than 260 characters.

UnauthorizedAccessException

The caller does not have the required permission.

-or-

path is a directory.

-or-

path specified a read-only file.

Remarks

Platform Notes

Silverlight for Windows Phone Silverlight for Windows Phone

 This member has a SecurityCriticalAttribute attribute on Silverlight for Windows Phone, because the attribute was present in Silverlight 3. This attribute restricts this member to internal use. Application code that uses this member throws a MethodAccessException.

**Windows NT 4.0 Platform Note:**Delete does not delete a file that is open for normal I/O or a file that is memory mapped.

Version Information

Silverlight

Supported in: 5, 4, 3

Silverlight for Windows Phone

Supported in: Windows Phone OS 7.1, Windows Phone OS 7.0

XNA Framework

Supported in: Xbox 360, Windows Phone OS 7.0

Platforms

For a list of the operating systems and browsers that are supported by Silverlight, see Supported Operating Systems and Browsers.

See Also

Reference