Deleting a file in java

[Tim frank]

Hey guys, im currently working on a virus scanner, its all working perfectly except for it wont delete the binary files for some reason. I have:

  
File afile = new File("c:/java virus files/eg/vizovflc.123");
afile.delete();
  

It doesn't work tho, the boolean value returned is always false.

Does anyone know why its not working?
Much appricaited.

[Ernest Friedman-Hill]

The most obvious explanation is that there's no such file; try checking the value of afile.exists().

Since you're on Windows, another important possibility is that the file is open for reading or writing; the OS won't let you delete an open file. Make sure it's closed.

[Kanu Dialani]

Also if u have any stream open which is using that file in ur java class it wont delete the file !

[Ernest Friedman-Hill]

That's a good point -- which is why I made it.


Kanu, a bit of business: you may not have read our naming policy on the way in. It requires that you use a full, real (sounding) first and last name for your display name. Initials aren't enough. You can change your display name here. Thanks!