Thanks Sabre, I went into my computer, selected tools, went to options, chose view, and selected view all files and view hidden operating system files. I then went into the recycle bin, hit F5, and removed all of the files in the bin. I still recieved the error message that said: Cannot delet file N with ~over it_^_|:, etc. I also rebooted using my ME boot disk, selected minimal and booted. When I received the A:\ I typed C:\. I then deleted recycled by entering deltree recycled after the C prompt. I tried to find the corrupted file by searching for a file with those characters in its text. I got the C:\windows\user.dat file. Could this be the corrupted file? Where does the recycle bin store its corrupted files? Is there a way for me to even see the corrupted file? It never displays in the recylce bin-it just stays there invisible to all, and I cannot delete it. This is very annoying, to say the least. Is there any way to delete the file manually? If only I could locate the file. Thank you in advance for help.

Put another file in the recycle bin and empty the recycle bin!

The corrupted file never deletes. Only the displayed files delete. If you read my post it says the error message states that the corrupted file cannot be deleted, either in concert with other files or alone. And I tried that solution numerous times. If anyone can offer any real help, I would appreciate it.

Try restoring the file. Note the file's location. Then use your ME boot disk, find the file and try to delete it. I don't know it this will work, but it's worth a shot. If you have a file viewer/manager like LIST (I STILL use it!) from DOS days, sometimes when you highlight a file and delete it from within the file manager/viewer, it is able to delete files with oddball names that I could not otherwise delete with the delete command.

List.com what a great program....anyway if your still stuck...boot from an old DOS disk(4 or 5 might work..earier the better). Get to the recycle directory and DEL *.* . Even though New DOS/WIN won't delete certain files Old DOS will.

Wow! Somebody else remembers List.com. I have version 9.0j. Is there a later version? Was List ever written for Windows?