I know if i want to have my game delete a file, i can use exec("del", "<filename>"), but that pops up this ugly little DOS window if i do it that way.

Is there either a way to delete a file without using exec() or a way to use exec() and not have the DOS window pop-up?

What kind of file do you want to delete? Every time, when you startup your Game? Or only one time?

file_delete maybe?
http://www.conitec.net/beta/afile_delete.htm

You can also use the windows api for that purpose. This is however a more costly approach. The function you need to call is SHFileOperation. You can find the ms documenation about the function here:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb762164(v=vs.85).aspx

Be careful. file_delete is much safer than using the windows api. If you use SHFileOperation there are pretty good chances the file operation cannot be inverted.

@The Shooter:

I am making a game that has only so many save slots (10). So for example, when the player chooses slot 1 - if there is already a game saved there I want the game to prompt the player "Do you want to overwirte this file: <filename>?". So basically i need to delete the file *1.save.

@Myrkling;

File_delete did the trick beautifully! thank you. I need to maybe RTFM occasionally i guess ;D (I usually do read the manual - i guess i just missed that somehow)