Member Avatar for bravo21

Dear All,
This is a file from Stardock and it won't get out from the system. Can any one help to delete this file. Thanks. I had already deleted all registry values for this installation but for this one single file.
thanks

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by sknake

Dani AI

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Brief diagnosis and approach: reports a Stardock DLL that will not delete even after registry cleanup; asked whether Delete produces an error or the file reappears after reboot. Those two behaviors point to two different causes: (A) the DLL is locked by a running process/service, or (B) a startup task or installer recreates it at boot. The safest path is to identify which of those is happening and then remove the lock or stop the recreating component before deleting.

Practical steps to try (in roughly this order):

  • Identify the holder: run an elevated Command Prompt and use tasklist /m WbSrv.dll or open Process Explorer and use Find -> "Find Handle or DLL" for WbSrv.dll to see the PID(s).
  • If a normal process holds it: stop the program or use taskkill /PID <pid> /F. If Explorer holds it, exit Explorer first (Task Manager -> File -> Run new task -> explorer.exe to restart after).
  • If a Windows service holds it: stop the service from services.msc or sc stop <servicename>; if it is part of a Stardock product, reinstall that product and uninstall properly rather than removing registry keys manually.
  • If it is a registered COM DLL: try regsvr32 /u "C:\full\path\WbSrv.dll" before deleting.
  • If permissions block deletion: take ownership with takeown /f "C:\full\path\WbSrv.dll" and grant rights with icacls "C:\full\path\WbSrv.dll" /grant administrators:F, then clear attributes with attrib -s -h -r "C:\full\path\WbSrv.dll".
  • If still in use or recreated at boot: boot to Safe Mode or WinRE/WinPE and delete from the command prompt (or rename to .old as a fallback).

Extra checks and cautions: check Task Scheduler, Startup items and Run registry keys for something that reinstalls the DLL; use Autoruns/Process Explorer to locate persistent entries. Verify the file’s digital signature in Properties to confirm it’s genuine Stardock code and scan with up-to-date AV if anything looks suspicious. Always create a System Restore point or full backup before removing system DLLs—deleting the wrong file can break the shell or other components.

Member Avatar for sknake

Highlight the file in windows explorer and press the delete key. Does it give you an error? Or does it re-appear after you reboot?

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