Cannot delete a video file - it is being used by another program

[Guest]

I get the message: "Cannot delete (file name) - it is being used by another person or program". I'm definately not using them however.

 

[Brian Smither]

I get the message: "Cannot delete (file name) - it is being used by
another person or program". I'm definately not using them however.

I came across the answer to this not too long ago, but I can't find the
source. Anyway, it seems WinXP is able to present to the user a
"preview" of certain files under certain conditions. In order to be able
to do this, it "opens" the file just enough so that deleting it becomes
problematic.

So, either turn off XP's ability to preview files (I don't know how to do
this). One suggestion is from:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_d.htm#del

It says:
Close all open apps. Open a command prompt and navigate to the directory
with the offending files. Then open the Task Manager and click on the
Processes tab. select "Explorer.Exe" under Image Name. Click "End
Process".
Now you will only have the command prompt and the task manager. In the
Command Prompt, DEL the offending files (DEL *.mpg, DEL mus*.avi, DEL
test.wmv, etc.)
The files should now delete without a problem. Now go back to the task
manager and click on the Applications tab. Click the "New Task..."
button. in the dialog, type Explorer.Exe and click OK.

 

[Alex Nichol]

I get the message: "Cannot delete (file name) - it is being used by another person or program". I'm definately not using them however.

If this is an AVI file it is because Explorer goes looking into the
files when you open a folder, to look for the extra info about
Properties - like resolution, frame rate, etc. And gets in a loop, so
the program that is using the file is the very Explorer you are trying
to delete with. It seems to happen particularly if the DivX codec
(that came out after XP) has been used.

A way to handle it is to r-click in the Task bar and take Task Manager..
Also have All Programs - Accessories - Command Prompt open, and use the
CD command in it to get to the folder containing the file. Then in Task
Manager, Processes, highlight explorer.exe and End Task. All the
desktop will vanish, leaving those two windows - in the Command prompt
one use DEL to delete the file(s), then in Task manager take File -
NewTask (Run) and run explorer.exe to bring the desktop back. A tedious
process.

It may be best for people with a lot of these files to do without the
extra property info - Start - run - regedit.exe, open to

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.avi\shellex\PropertyHandler

highlight that and delete it

 

[Guest]

Following the Kellys Corner link works...bit tricky but works. Thanks! Thought I'd be stuck with this darn file forever

----- Alex Nichol wrote: ----

Ben wrote

I get the message: "Cannot delete (file name) - it is being used by another person or program". I'm definately not using them however.

If this is an AVI file it is because Explorer goes looking into th
files when you open a folder, to look for the extra info abou
Properties - like resolution, frame rate, etc. And gets in a loop, s
the program that is using the file is the very Explorer you are tryin
to delete with. It seems to happen particularly if the DivX code
(that came out after XP) has been used

A way to handle it is to r-click in the Task bar and take Task Manager.
Also have All Programs - Accessories - Command Prompt open, and use th
CD command in it to get to the folder containing the file. Then in Tas
Manager, Processes, highlight explorer.exe and End Task. All th
desktop will vanish, leaving those two windows - in the Command promp
one use DEL to delete the file(s), then in Task manager take File
NewTask (Run) and run explorer.exe to bring the desktop back. A tediou
process

It may be best for people with a lot of these files to do without th
extra property info - Start - run - regedit.exe, open t

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.avi\shellex\PropertyHandle

highlight that and delete i