# An mp3 file so corrupt it could run for the Senate (how do I delete it??) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 20, 2001, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-mp3-file-so-corrupt-it-could-run-for-the-senate-how-do-i-delete-it/69516 "2001-06-20T20:19:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sethdallob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@sethdallob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sethdallob)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-mp3-file-so-corrupt-it-could-run-for-the-senate-how-do-i-delete-it/69516/1 "2001-06-20T20:19:24Z")
I’ve got this MP3 file on my hard drive that I ripped from a CD, and played before. All of a sudden, it’s gotten really screwed up. Not only can I not play it, I can’t delete, copy, cut, paste or move it. The icon in the Win2k explorer window is there, and I can click it, right click it etc. but I can’t do anything to delete it. I tried to right-click for properties, and a dialog box comes up saying “the properties for this file are not availible.” This stupid file blows up my playlist maker every time, but I can’t find a way to get rid of it! Help! ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-mp3-file-so-corrupt-it-could-run-for-the-senate-how-do-i-delete-it/69516/2 "2001-06-20T20:38:56Z")
I would navigate to the folder that it is stored in by clicking through the folders from the desktop instead of using Explorer. Then I would 1) Try to drag it to the trash that way. 2) If that does not work, try to rename it and give it a new extension (aka Bastard.txt). That may cause something to give. 3) If that does not work, try the file repair tool in the Start - Windows - Accessories - System Tools menu 4) If that doesn’t work, simply go into DOS and reformat your hard drive. That will get rid of it 😃 ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-mp3-file-so-corrupt-it-could-run-for-the-senate-how-do-i-delete-it/69516/3 "2001-06-20T20:42:02Z")
is the hard disk file structure OK? run scandisk? Checked file attributes too? You should be able to delete it then. ---
**Author:** ![muppetsoup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aca169/32.png) [@muppetsoup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muppetsoup)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-mp3-file-so-corrupt-it-could-run-for-the-senate-how-do-i-delete-it/69516/4 "2001-06-20T21:18:52Z")
Go to a DOS prompt. cd \ del \ All done! ---
**Author:** ![sethdallob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@sethdallob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sethdallob)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-mp3-file-so-corrupt-it-could-run-for-the-senate-how-do-i-delete-it/69516/5 "2001-06-20T21:33:52Z")
None of the above suggestions are working. I can’t rename the file. The DOS approach didn’t work either. My HD is otherwise sound. Any other suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-mp3-file-so-corrupt-it-could-run-for-the-senate-how-do-i-delete-it/69516/6 "2001-06-20T22:05:43Z")
Well, I’m not a Win2K user, but…does it still have “Restart in DOS mode” as an option when you go to Shut Down? I have yet to meet the file that can withstand deletion after restarting in DOS mode, though many’s the file that resists deletion from a common DOS prompt. ---
**Author:** ![sethdallob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@sethdallob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sethdallob)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-mp3-file-so-corrupt-it-could-run-for-the-senate-how-do-i-delete-it/69516/7 "2001-06-20T22:47:18Z")
Strangest thing ever. The file couldn’t be touched, but if I moved all the other files out of the folder, deleted the folder, then recreated the folder and moved everything back, it works fine. A real head-scratcher, but at least it’s taken care of. To mods: you can close this thread at your conveinence. ---
**Author:** ![AETBOND417](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@AETBOND417](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AETBOND417)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-mp3-file-so-corrupt-it-could-run-for-the-senate-how-do-i-delete-it/69516/8 "2001-06-21T00:04:20Z")
But not without me posting first. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Father\_Pacelli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Father\_Pacelli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Father_Pacelli)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-mp3-file-so-corrupt-it-could-run-for-the-senate-how-do-i-delete-it/69516/9 "2001-06-21T05:00:54Z")
That’s what you get for trying to steal free Metallica. 😃 Seriously, though. That might be one of those new MP3s that only plays back a certain number of times. Those were developed as a compromise between Napster and the music industry. People can still “sample” records free to determine whether or not they are worth the price, but they can’t use them as a substitute for buying the CD. Of course, the previous paragraph may very well be full of what makes the grass grow green, but that’s my opinion. If I was you, I’d run it through a virus scanner. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-mp3-file-so-corrupt-it-could-run-for-the-senate-how-do-i-delete-it/69516/10 "2001-06-21T05:23:34Z")
**sethdallob** , that same thing happened to me a few months ago while using a version of a certain MP3-sharing program. I deleted the file the same way you did! No clue as to what the actual problem was, though, and the next version of the program fixed that bug. ---
**Author:** ![lolagranola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea5d25/32.png) [@lolagranola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lolagranola)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-mp3-file-so-corrupt-it-could-run-for-the-senate-how-do-i-delete-it/69516/11 "2001-06-21T06:10:39Z")
I had the same problem with a couple of my mp3’s. The strangest thing was how I fixed it. I dragged it from its folder to the desktop, and it deleted easily from there. I have no idea why that worked. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-mp3-file-so-corrupt-it-could-run-for-the-senate-how-do-i-delete-it/69516/12 "2001-06-21T07:28:27Z")
Just email it to me and I’ll delete here. No sweat. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![sethdallob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@sethdallob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sethdallob)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-mp3-file-so-corrupt-it-could-run-for-the-senate-how-do-i-delete-it/69516/13 "2001-06-21T15:52:25Z")
Actually, this was a completely legit MP3 made from a CD that I own. I don’t have/use those mean evil file sharing programs. Strange.