How do I delete files that are locked when no other app can delete them?

Question

So I found out that I had a Trojan on my external hard drive. My anti-virus app killed it, but it has created a bunch of random files on my computer which cannot be deleted. These are image files. They cannot be renamed - using any method - nor can they be moved, cut, copied, permanently deleted or even opened (in any program).

How can we rid these files from our system?

I have tried:

1. Right-click > Delete
2. Shift+Delete (Permanently Delete)
3. Swearing

and then:

4. FileASSASSIN from MalwareBytes
5. Eraser program
6. sdelete program
7. several commands in cmd

but none of them have been successful. How can I completely obliterate these files?

Answer 1

Use a live boot Linux DVD. Boot to it. Find the file and delete it

Answer 2

Try booting from a usb stick to DOS. (So Windows doesn't start, this way the virus doesn't protect the files from being deleted. )

Guide: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/faq/id-1869892/making-bootable-dos-usb-drive.html

Answer 3

I installed Terabox (its a Chinese version of DropBox) and after uninstalling I noticed they'd left me a little present called YunShellExt64.dll.

Deleting failed with error:

the file is being used by windows explorer

In this case I opened TaskManager, killed the Windows Explorer process.

Its expected the taskbar on Windows with start button, apps and explorer goes black.

In Task Manager > File > New Process. Type cmd and press enter to open a command prompt.

Change directory to the folder with the file you wish to delete, eg:

cd c:\TeraBox

Delete the file for good:

del YunShellExt64.dll

Launch Windows Explorer:

explorer.exe