[2008] Folder exists and create, file exists and delete, and process exists and end

[Shadowz O Death]

Hello everyone! I am using Microsoft Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition. How do I check to see if a folder exists? If the folder exists, how do I check to see if a file in the folder exists? If the file exists, how do I check to see if the file is running? If the file is running, how do I stop running the file? How do I delete the file? If the folder does not exist, how do I create the folder? Thank you!

[jmcilhinney]

Take a look at the System.IO.File and System.IO.Directory classes. They will do most of what you want.

There's really no way to check whether a file is "running". What does that really mean anyway? You can't "run" a data file. If it's an executable you can use the Process class to see if there's a corresponding process running but I doubt that it is because you wouldn't be deleting most executables.

[Shadowz O Death]

Take a look at the System.IO.File and System.IO.Directory classes. They will do most of what you want.

There's really no way to check whether a file is "running". What does that really mean anyway? You can't "run" a data file. If it's an executable you can use the Process class to see if there's a corresponding process running but I doubt that it is because you wouldn't be deleting most executables.

Okay, thank you. Yes, it is an executable. I took a look at the System.IO.File and System.IO.Directory classes and came up with the following code.

Module Module1
 
    Sub Main()
        If IO.Directory.Exists("C:\Folder") Then
            If IO.File.Exists("C:\Folder\File.exe") Then
                For Each Process As Process In Process.GetProcesses
                    If Process.ProcessName = "File.exe" Then
                        Process.Kill()
                        Exit For
                    End If
                Next
                IO.File.Delete("C:\Folder\File.exe")
            End If
        Else
            IO.Directory.CreateDirectory("C:\Folder")
        End If
    End Sub
 
End Module

For some reason, the process is not killed and I am unable to delete the file as it is running. What is the problem? Thank you!

[jmcilhinney]

Rather than getting all processes and testing the Name you should call GetProcessesByName.

If you try that code without the Delete call does it kill the process? If so then you're probably just trying to delete it too soon, before the system has had a chance to clean up properly.

You might try calling WaitForExit in between, although I'm not 100% sure that will work with Kill.

By the way, if this is a Windows Forms app then you should try calling CloseMainWindow before calling Kill. A forum search will turn up several examples.

[Shadowz O Death]

Rather than getting all processes and testing the Name you should call GetProcessesByName.

If you try that code without the Delete call does it kill the process? If so then you're probably just trying to delete it too soon, before the system has had a chance to clean up properly.

You might try calling WaitForExit in between, although I'm not 100% sure that will work with Kill.

By the way, if this is a Windows Forms app then you should try calling CloseMainWindow before calling Kill. A forum search will turn up several examples.

It does not kill the process when I try the code without the Delete call, although I have found the problem. The ProcessName property cannot include the file extension (exe). My code follows.

Module Module1
 
    Sub Main()
        If IO.Directory.Exists("C:\Folder") Then
            If IO.File.Exists("C:\Folder\File.exe") Then
                For Each Process As Process In Process.GetProcessesByName("File")
                    Process.Kill()
                    Exit For
                Next
                IO.File.Delete("C:\Folder\File.exe")
            End If
        Else
            IO.Directory.CreateDirectory("C:\Folder")
        End If
    End Sub
 
End Module

Unfortunately, I have another problem. When it calls Process.Kill, I receive the following exception.

System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception was unhandled
ErrorCode=-2147467259
Message="Access is denied"
NativeErrorCode=5
Source="System"
StackTrace:
at System.Diagnostics.ProcessManager.OpenProcess(Int32 processId, Int32 access, Boolean throwIfExited) at System.Diagnostics.Process.GetProcessHandle(Int32 access, Boolean throwIfExited) at System.Diagnostics.Process.Kill() at ConsoleApplication1.Module1.Main() in C:\Documents and Settings\Jason\Local Settings\Application Data\Temporary Projects\ConsoleApplication1\Module1.vb:line 9 at System.AppDomain._nExecuteAssembly(Assembly assembly, String[] args) at System.AppDomain.ExecuteAssembly(String assemblyFile, Evidence assemblySecurity, String[] args) at Microsoft.VisualStudio.HostingProcess.HostProc.RunUsersAssembly() at System.Threading.ThreadHelper.ThreadStart_Context(Object state) at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(ExecutionContext executionContext, ContextCallback callback, Object state) at System.Threading.ThreadHelper.ThreadStart()
InnerException:

What is the problem? Thank you!

[jmcilhinney]

Is that process running under a different user maybe?

[Shadowz O Death]

Is that process running under a different user maybe?

No, but when I try ending the process in Task Manager, it says the following.

---------------------------
Unable to Terminate Process
---------------------------
This is a critical system process. Task Manager cannot end this process.
---------------------------
OK
---------------------------

How to I bypass this and kill the process anyways? Thank you!

[jmcilhinney]

You're kidding me, right? The Task Manager is telling you that this is a critical system process and you want to kill it and then delete the executable? Do you know what "critical" means?

[jmcilhinney]

Perhaps that reaction was a little string but this does seem to be a rather wacky request. If this process is critical then it's highly likely that your OS will fail or misbehave if you do manage to kill the process, let a lone delete the executable. Perhaps you should explain what exactly you're trying to achieve and why. Deleting critical files is also something that malicious software might do, so what are we to think?

[chris128]

You're kidding me, right? The Task Manager is telling you that this is a critical system process and you want to kill it and then delete the executable? Do you know what "critical" means?

haha strangely I thought the exact same thing when I read his post...

[Shadowz O Death]

Perhaps that reaction was a little string but this does seem to be a rather wacky request. If this process is critical then it's highly likely that your OS will fail or misbehave if you do manage to kill the process, let a lone delete the executable. Perhaps you should explain what exactly you're trying to achieve and why. Deleting critical files is also something that malicious software might do, so what are we to think?

Sorry for the misunderstanding. I am creating a program that will remove a virus by killing the process than deleting the file. The process is not actually critical. It just says that to prevent you from killing it. How do I bypass this and kill the process anyways? Thank you!

[r33k]

sounds like he's making a kill switch program. I made one a while back that deleted c:\program files but i have no idea where exactly that source is but it sounds like it would help

[chris128]

How would deleting the entire Program Files directory be useful for anything other than making a virus??

[Shadowz O Death]

Sorry for the misunderstanding. I am creating a program that will remove a virus by killing the process than deleting the file. The process is not actually critical. It just says that to prevent you from killing it. How do I bypass this and kill the process anyways? Thank you!

How do I do this? Someone must know how... I tried to stop the virus from opening at startup by making my program edit the registry, but the virus makes itself open at startup again by editing the registry when I shutdown my computer.

[jmcilhinney]

Perhaps you should research that specific virus online and see what's required to remove it. This is not a VB.NET issue as you're not going to get rid of something like this using an amateurish VB.NET program.

[r33k]

you don't need to make a program you need a better AV/AS program. Use zone alarm since its sensitive to viruses.

If it sets itself to start up it should register itself on the start up utilities aswell so check

run>msconfig>start up programs

for the file and disable it then

Ctrl + Alt + Del> Processes> View all processes

close the process