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

Question

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

Kevin Savage 41

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?

Carla Guinto-Villanueva 6 Reputation points

2022-01-02T04:12:27.45+00:00

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.
Carla Guinto-Villanueva 6 Reputation points

2022-01-02T04:12:46.02+00:00

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.
Docs 16,071 Reputation points

2022-01-02T04:25:26.553+00:00

See this link:

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

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Teriann 1 Reputation point

2022-11-07T15:38:36.35+00:00

This is how to DEL .pdf files that are STUCK on your Desktop -

Whether the files are PDF or anything else, a strategy would be the same. And not just for Windows 10, but any version. Let’s assume that they are all in the same folder (since you would simply repeat this in each folder. I hope there aren’t too many.) Your life will be simpler if the only ones in that folder are your nasty targets. Assuming that you wish to delete ALL these files in that folder, do the following: use the CMD prompt.

Click Windows_key+r and open the Run window. The command to enter is cmd, and click OK. You will get a command window. At the prompt use the cd command to navigate to the folder of interest. You might have to go one folder at a time, such as cd C:\ then cd Users, the cd <your username>, then cd Documents, etc. Then you will be able to use the DEL command. You could enter del /? to see its help info, how it can be used. To delete ALL the files in the folder enter del *. Of course you could have just deleted the folder, even in the File Explorer.

If you do NOT wish to remove all of them, you need a way to select the ones you wish. If there is some common word or sequence of text in the names desired, you can say del common_word where that 1st asterisk matches anything before the common_word and the 2nd one matches anything after. If there are spaces in filenames it is more complicated and I would recommend an alternative using the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) available in Windows 10. It has a better tool.

Accepted answer

5 additional answers

Your answer

Carla Guinto-Villanueva 6 Reputation points

2022-01-02T04:12:27.45+00:00

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.
Carla Guinto-Villanueva 6 Reputation points

2022-01-02T04:12:46.02+00:00

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.
Docs 16,071 Reputation points

2022-01-02T04:25:26.553+00:00

See this link:

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

.
.
.
.
.

Please remember to vote and to mark the replies as answers if they help.

On the bottom of each post there is:

Propose as answer = answered the question

On the left side of each post there is /\ with a number: click = a helpful post
.
.
.
.
.
Teriann 1 Reputation point

2022-11-07T15:38:36.35+00:00

This is how to DEL .pdf files that are STUCK on your Desktop -

Whether the files are PDF or anything else, a strategy would be the same. And not just for Windows 10, but any version. Let’s assume that they are all in the same folder (since you would simply repeat this in each folder. I hope there aren’t too many.) Your life will be simpler if the only ones in that folder are your nasty targets. Assuming that you wish to delete ALL these files in that folder, do the following: use the CMD prompt.

Click Windows_key+r and open the Run window. The command to enter is cmd, and click OK. You will get a command window. At the prompt use the cd command to navigate to the folder of interest. You might have to go one folder at a time, such as cd C:\ then cd Users, the cd <your username>, then cd Documents, etc. Then you will be able to use the DEL command. You could enter del /? to see its help info, how it can be used. To delete ALL the files in the folder enter del *. Of course you could have just deleted the folder, even in the File Explorer.

If you do NOT wish to remove all of them, you need a way to select the ones you wish. If there is some common word or sequence of text in the names desired, you can say del common_word where that 1st asterisk matches anything before the common_word and the 2nd one matches anything after. If there are spaces in filenames it is more complicated and I would recommend an alternative using the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) available in Windows 10. It has a better tool.

Answer 1

Anonymous

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'

Best Regards,
Ian Xue

============================================

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NARAYANAN V 0 Reputation points

2023-08-20T06:13:18.33+00:00

unable to delete this pdf file on my desktop " APznzaa9_gQiX17WM21PzeY6vN7meAYH-5BdrB5dikRYkdkdhbH6-6ktzGINnSnc4kxCfpEU44wYeG-O3Fyr7g4GOnMlD60jVENNN8AecYcSuqXMKz9Dsnb7kEQaOit-pQKPLqFCGUbtDGolHdoxtc7xhOP4t9qzDipYxSZa8wfJwEhkvB_BGj9jMgygpw__AMjfi51G8gOvksQ-IjHY0VS-faJNvQe4IKKpPbJf3dQSnNgkOnD4m6ljc0i"
Geoff White 0 Reputation points

2023-09-06T10:59:19.07+00:00

Thank God someone had the answer!!! Thanks.
Mohsin Juneja 0 Reputation points

2024-01-29T07:47:53.65+00:00

Life saver!!! This answer worked for me. Thank you Ian.
UTSAB BISWAS 0 Reputation points

2024-01-31T07:12:12.1733333+00:00

It's working💪🏼 Thanks☺️
Bert Johnson 0 Reputation points

2024-08-22T21:01:01.1966667+00:00

I hope Ian is still reading this thread, as I tried several times to use his recommendation and I can't get it to delete! Help! It is in my documents folder, a PDF.

Answer 2

Kevin Savage 41

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.

👍👍👍👍👍

Anonymous

2021-07-01T03:57:16.12+00:00

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

Answer 3

lgh000 罗 0

Thank you so much, this trick has solved my puzzle for half a month! You are awesome.

Answer 4

Amanda Moraes do Vale Batista 0

Thank you so much, this was the only solution that actually worked!

Answer 5

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

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