Cannot remove PDF from desktop

[Simon26671943nz7s]

I have a PDF file on my desktop that I cannot remove.

It has a long file name (that I cannot edit), I also cannot open the file and receive the message "There was an error opening this document. The path does not exist".

I no longer require the file so am happy to remove it from my computer.

Any suggestions as to how to remove the file is appreciated as I have tried everything.

[ls_rbls]

In which operating system is this happening and in which directory path is this file located?

What program are you using to try and open it with?

What it sounds like is that you were working with with a PDF document in Acrobat and save it somewhere, but then manually moved it, renamed it or deleted it from the folder that Acrobat was using before.

I assume you were trying to open such file from the "Recent" home view in Acrobat, correct? Can you confirm?

Would you be able to share a screenshot?

[Simon26671943nz7s]

I'm using Windows, screenshots are attached

[Simon26671943nz7s]

[ls_rbls]

++ EDITED REPLY, fixed many typos

In your screenshot, there are additional tabs.

Go to the "Security" tab and see what system processes are owning that file.

If there are indeed any system processes that are owning the directory's file  atrributes (or permissions), You may need to change or remove the attributes that are preventing it from accessing the file.

To do this, you may need to be  Administrator, then you'll  be able to give full read/write access to your  current user account against that file.

Better yet, simply remove the parent process that is acting as a user account, including other listed accounts; specifically the accounts that are  labeled as "Unknown".

In addition, I couldn't help but notice that your file have an entire URL in it;  the URL address seems to be  pointing to some kind of malformed Western Union web site.

Considering all the fraudulent scams that involve Western Union wire transfer services, Do you have any clues as to why this happened?

Who had the idea to re-name a PDF file with a long encrypted web address that points to some kind of Western Union web site in the first place?

I am just curious.

Was this a web page that was saved as or  exported to a PDF using the Adobe PDFMaker extension ?

Was it saved to your computer automatically without user intervention?

Or, if this was performed manually, did you forget to at least capture the fact that a legitimate "8.3" file name convention was not met (specifically all the special characters in it) ?

Also, Did you run a virus scan on that file while not connected to the Intetnet?

It is worth noting that files without a proper file naming convention or, in this case, with a ".com" on any part of its file name is equivalent to an obfuscated  executable file; which is similar to a file that can potentially trigger any executable  behaviors like those files with an legitimate ".exe" extension. 

Everytime you click on it something may and will execute in the background.

In the case of a file with a  ".com" in any part of its name,  you won't even know who this file is trying to reach when you go online.

[ls_rbls]

On second thought, and looking at your screenshot again, if you click on the button "Change..." (opposite to the "Open with" line, to the far right), does it allows you to change which program can open this file?

If yes, choose Notepad (or any text file editor for what it's worth). 

Since the file has https:// and a  ".com" in its file name, do not choose to open with a web browser.

But anyway,  before you try to open the file with Notepad, ensure that you're doing so as Administrator.

If you're able to open it as Administrator please share a screenshot if its content to verify that there is nothing important there regarding a legitimate PDF document.

If you are able to determine that the content of this file may be unsafe,  or if you determine that you don't need this file at all, then you may delete all of its content and Save.

At least this will prevent  from executing  whatever code was in the  ".com" portion (if any) as you try to delete or move the file to another directory with less restrictive read/write privileges.

[Simon26671943nz7s]

I can change the file on the desktop to a txt file.

However, still unable to delete

[ls_rbls]

Ok, good.

Are you able to open it with Notepad or change the filename?

[Simon26671943nz7s]

Unfortunately unable to change the filename

[Simon26671943nz7s]

This is what I receive when I open the file with Notepad

[ls_rbls]

Interesting!

Not completely sure if that is entire Korean and Japanese to include other Asian alphabet symbols.

If this is not your native language, and you have not conducted any exchange of PDF documents or business with any organizations or individuals in such countries, If I were you I would definitely get rid of that file.

If this file is not important see if the system allows you to delete all that content and save the file as a blank text file.

[Simon26671943nz7s]

File is absolutely not important to me, I just want it off my desktop and
computer.

The file allows me to delete the content of the txt file, but still does
not allow me to delete (or rename) the file on my desktop.

[ls_rbls]

Both of the solutions suggested by Simon and Try67 should work as long as you do it as the Administrator.

Are you on Microsoft Windows 11?

[Simon26671943nz7s]

Yes, I am on Microsoft Windows 11.

Just to be certain, how do I confirm the I am operating as the
administrator?

[Simon26671943nz7s · Accepted solution]

Thank you for all your help, I have found a solution.

I used EaseUs BitWiper and used the file shredder function.

[DeanUtian]

Good to hear. Well done.

[Bhawana38716122j47e]

Hey I'm facing the same issue.

I tries using file shredder option from EaseUs BitWiper

It isn't working .

Can you help regarding this.

[Real Insurance Services]

I had the same issue, that is a glitch of some download that is on the desktop but it is not.

The best way to remove it is right click on the pdf file then go to properties and at the bottom click hidden, apply and ok. Doing this the file goes away

[asha-kanta-sharma]

Thanks for helping the world 🙂

[S. S]

Hi @asha-kanta-sharma,

Hope you are doing well. 

Thanks for letting us know that it worked for you.

Regards,
Souvik.

[try67]

This is not really an Acrobat issue, but on OS one...

Try renaming the file first, and then deleting it. If that still doesn't work open a command-line to the desktop folder, make sure there are no other PDF files on it (IMPORTANT!) and then run this command:

del *.pdf

[Simon26671943nz7s]

Unfortunately this doesn't work. I am unable to re-name the file and when I
run the command del *.pdf I receive the message 'the system cannot find
the file specified'.

[DeanUtian]

Are you able to move the file? I would try select the file, then Control + X (cut) , go to a new location and then Control + V (paste). You may be able to delete it once in another location.
If you move it to a folder wihout any other files, you could go to the folder through the Command Prompt and then use: del *.*

[Simon26671943nz7s]

Unable to move the files to a new folder