# What's this file, and how do I delete it?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-file-and-how-do-i-delete-it/650391>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 15, 2013, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-file-and-how-do-i-delete-it/650391 "2013-02-15T14:56:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-file-and-how-do-i-delete-it/650391/1 "2013-02-15T14:56:59Z")

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Yesterday I made an Excel file on my Mac (OS 10.7.5) and saved it to the desktop. I copied the table and pasted it into an email. When I saved the file again, after making some formatting changes, it saved a file called 2004EE00 onto my desktop. I am unable to move it to Trash, open it, or even Get Info.

What is this file, and how do I get rid of it?

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**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-file-and-how-do-i-delete-it/650391/2 "2013-02-15T18:40:29Z")

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First, try deleting it after you restart.  
If that doesn’t work, you can delete it from the terminal:  
Sudo rm (then drag the file from the Finder to the terminal window and drop it) \<return\>

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**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-file-and-how-do-i-delete-it/650391/3 "2013-02-15T18:50:42Z")

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You can try to download Unlocker. Here is one version for Mac.

> **[Download File Unlock - Best Software & Apps](https://en.softonic.com/s/file-unlocker:mac)**
>
> Download File Unlock . Free and safe download. Download the latest version of the top software, games, programs and apps in 2023.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-file-and-how-do-i-delete-it/650391/4 "2013-02-16T05:05:35Z")

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The file seems to have taken it upon itself to be gone.

I did do a restart earlier for another reason. I don’t know if that had anything to do with it. I didn’t touch the file afterward.