hmmmm
I have run full Norton scans etc and I dont appear to have any bad stuff on my 'puter...
however
recently whenever I try to delete something from anywhere in my documents, my bookmarks, or my programs etc I get an Microsoft error message

I can delete emails from my outlook express just fine and I can backspace/delete text as well as delete stuff from word documents. I can also remove/remove programs

just seems to be when I use the Start menu to access documents or programs and right click to delete anything that I get the error message, as well as when going to my bookmark/favorites folders

hope I explained that ok
anyone know why this may be happening?

If you write down the error message # and text, and then Google that , it might help. That is what my son does to fix things, sometimes.

example:
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/...2-0fa36d76af3b

I'd also try a reboot, and then try to delete again. Sometimes just a reboot helps me with problems.

rebooted many times, and did everything else I can think of including a restore etc...this has been going on for about 2 months!

I did google the problem and came up with some forums where people posted the same problem, also around the time I started noticing this ie Novemeber...but the replies dont offer any real solutions

eg
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/...2-0fa36d76af3b

I've sent a message to Kevin...maybe he has encountered this.

Is there a message or error # I can send him?

thanks mrsD

it is the std Microsoft error thingy
Then it gives the option to tell Microsoft about this problem by sending an error report, which I have done numerous times

I use windows XP op system

I was looking around for you and found this...potential solutions.
Like moving the file, renaming the file etc.

Don't click on "DOWNLOAD" that is an advertisement.

http://www.softwarepatch.com/tips/howto-delete-xp.html

I can't vouch for the safety of the "scan" they offer.

This site suggests booting in safe mode, and deleting there!
http://www.bootdisk.com/xptop20.htm#8

my Norton doesnt like that 2nd link

but it does seem this is a glitch some people are having with XP OS

I do need to find a permanent fix for the prob rather than just ways to work around it as I frequently have to delete photos after items sell or clean out bookmarked sites, old documents etc

I have tried renaming etc but the problem persists.

hubby has suggested backing up my stuff on the spare hard drive and reformatting this drive

I strongly suspect that something glitched when windows did one of it's updates as I never had this problem before

Have you ever used any of the cleaners?

CCleaner
http://www.ccleaner.com/

Glary Utilities
http://www.glaryutilities.com/
maybe something like that will find the problem.

I have both installed and of alternate between them..

Well, I got a bit worried there...so I went to my graphics folder where I stash my things to use on the net and deleted an old smiley that I really don't need. It deleted okay, with right click.
I did it within a program, and not straight out of explorer. The site I read seems to imply that explorer.exe is the problem.

I wonder if you moved all the things you want to delete to a new folder, and then if you deleted the whole folder with a new name if that would work? Or have you tried that?

You know, explorer does not exist as such in Windows 7. I haven't gotten my head around that yet. The folders are different too. Hubby is slowly putting stuff back on the new machine, so I don't get to use it much yet. This new programing is obviously intentional!

Do you want me to copy/paste the second link for you here?
Avast didn't stop me, and our weekend scan didn't find anything.
That idea to boot in safe mode ..sounded interesting to me.
I'll call Kevin today... his office uses Windows and they might have encountered this problem. They log all the help desk actions and must delete sooner or later after some time, etc.
They just came out with a new software, and debugged it, so maybe they are good with debugging?

edit-- I just found this:
http://ask-leo.com/why_cant_i_delete_this_file.html
He goes on to recommend a program to fix this. --a Free Windows
program.

and here is another advice link:
http://winhlp.com/node/39
I have to confess I break out in a cold sweat and feel panic coming on with some of these suggestions...command lines, screen going black, etc!

well I have followed the directions given on that microsoft help forum that I linked above, and the scan showed no problem with XP

I also used the cleaning programs, defragged, and ran other scans and updates and even upgraded to internet explorer 8 but altho my 'puter is sure running faster and better, the problem re the deleting persists. I have renamed files, moved files and tried a host of other things

so tomorrow I am going to contact miscrosoft and see what free live help they can give, as I really do need a permanent fix for this.

way too weird!