Problem deleting or renaming files

[William]

HI,
I often get errors when deleting/rename files:
Cannot Delete/Rename file_name: It is being used by another person or
program

The computer is not shared, so no one else can have access.
I closed all the programs on my desktop, so mostly like there is another
process using the file. How do I find out who is using the file? And, how
do I "unlock" it?

If I logoff or restart the computer, then, of course, the problem goes away.
But, this is not an acceptable workaround every time.

Thanks

 

[Bob I]

Many times it's the "where and what", that causes the problem with file
locking. The folder it is in and the file type may be the cause. Share
that info with the folks, and they may have an answer.

 

[SingaporeWebDesign]

Hello,

1) Try doing the action in Safe Mode -
How to restart in Safe mode or in Safe mode with networking support
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316434

2) Use Unlocker to unlock the locking handles on the file (and to find out
which process locked it) and delete/unlock it (free)
http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/

--
Singapore Website Design
http://www.bootstrike.com/Webdesign/
Singapore Web Hosting
http://www.bootstrike.com/WinXP/faq.html
Windows XP FAQ

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Reboot or kill explorer.exe and restart explorer.exe. Then try again. If
avi files are the problem, read on.

To kill explorer and restart it.

Open the Task Manager...
Ctrl + Shift + Escape | Click on the Processes tab | Locate and highlight
explorer.exe | Right click explorer.exe | Click End Process | Click
Yes to the Task Manager Warning that pops up | Click File on the Toolbar |
Click New Task (Run...) | Type in: explorer | Click OK

End Process on explorer.exe will make your Desktop, Taskbar and all programs
disappear. This can be startling. Restarting explorer will bring
everything back.

This can fix/restore/reinitialize/refresh a lot of things.

Avi files have a bug in XP. XP thinks that it has to read through every avi
file every time that you open a folder that contains any. You also get the
locked file in use when trying to delete, rename, move, etc. avi files.

See this on the fix.

How to get rid of "Locked AVI" Bug in Windows XP
http://riccardo.raneri.it/blog/eng/...w-to-get-rid-of-locked-avi-bug-in-windows-xp/

The only down side to the above fix is that when you right click an avi file
and select Properties, the Summary page will be blank or grayed out. Which
I decided was a lesser evil than some of the other problems .avi files
cause.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[chriske911]

Hello William,

try disabling the antivirus software and then try deleting or renaming the
same file(s) again

grtz