Esperologist said

that option is not available.

What exactly prevents you from deleting the file you saved to your disc?

christ1 said

What exactly prevents you from deleting the file you saved to your disc?

I open Windows Explorer and navigate to the location of the saved .eml file. I select the file and press the 'delete' key and nothing happens.

I right click the file and there is not delete or move option available. There is a copy option available, but I'd rather not risk having more files I can't delete.

If I open another Windows Explorer window to another location, I can right-click drag to get the following options: 'copy here', 'create shortcut', 'cancel'.

If I open the 'Recycle Bin' then try to drag it in, all actions are denied.

It sounds like that directory or file is write protected. Right click and change protection (maybe you need to be administrator)

Gnospen said

It sounds like that directory or file is write protected. Right click and change protection (maybe you need to be administrator)

Just checked, file was not write protected. Other files in the directory I am able to delete. Checked the directory settings, looked like it might have partial protection (instead of a check/unchecked box it was a blue box in the box). I cleared the blue box and saved it - did not resolve it.

On double checking, I can adjust the 'read only' state of the folder to 'checked' and it retains that after applying. However, if I clear the box to 'unchecked' and apply... then when I open the properties again it has reverted to a blue box.

It appears that somehow Thunderbird has used a hidden flag to prevent the file from being deleted and I can't override it.

Which version of Windows?

This is a Windows thing, but I don't use it myself and don't know the answer. But to search usefully for an answer, it would help to know what version you are running.

Ah! From Matt's blog site:

Can't delete EML files This came up on the get satisfaction support site, and I thought it worth noting here for my own future reference.

Apparently windows search uses some sort of modified file properties to 'enhance the search experience'. The references I have read all implicate Live mail in the installation of this enhancement, but it could just as well be a windows update or an Internet explorer update.

The side effect of the enhanced search experience is that any EML files you have saved into the file system from your mail client can't be dealt with as files and nothing you do to move or delete them works. The solution is to change the registry key as shown below. Once that key is set to Zero and you have rebooted you will be able to modify the EML files as normal.

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{5FA29220-36A1-40f9-89C6-F4B384B7642E}\OverrideFileSystemProperties] "System.SFGAOFlags"=dword:00000000

http://thunderbirdtweaks.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/cant-delete-eml-files.html