Article #17634: Trying to delete a running .exe?

 Question and Answer Database
FAQ2634D.txt Trying to delete a running .exe?
Category :Windows API
Platform :All
Product :All 32 bit
Question:
How can I delete my executable while it is running?
Answer:
Under Win32, unless you are running from a removable drive, you
cannot delete a running executable. You can have Windows delete the
executable the next time Windows is ran by adding an entry to the
RunOnce key in the Windows registry under:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can name the key anything you like, and specify a command line to
another executable or to a dos command passed to command.com.
Example:
uses
Registry;
procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
var
reg: TRegistry;
begin
reg := TRegistry.Create;
with reg do begin
RootKey := HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE;
LazyWrite := false;
OpenKey('Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce',
false);
WriteString('Delete Me!','command.com /c del FILENAME.EXT');
CloseKey;
free;
end;
end;
7/16/98 4:31:28 PM

Last Modified: 01-SEP-99