first, you must direct the File::find to your current dir (or it will treat the target "Local setting" directory as if it is on c: root find(\&wanted, "c:\/Documents and Settings\/YourUser\/Local Settings"); second - perl cant unlink the file (locked -> permission denied"). i use overwrite, which also takes care of the undelete problem: use File::Copy; copy('c:\empty.txt',$_)||$!;