Can't delete file

[Carl Childress]

I'm trying to delete a file. This is the error message:

Cannot delete filename: It is being used by another person or
program. Close any programs that might be using the file and try again.

I closd every program, including those we used to call TSR. Only Explorer
was running. No luck. I even searched the registry. The filename didn't
appear.

I cannot rename or delete that file. When I copied it to another folder, I
simply doubled my displeasure. Now I can't delete either file.

Surely there's something I can do to delete it.

 

[Graham]

Uncheck the read only button.

I'm trying to delete a file. This is the error message:

Cannot delete filename: It is being used by another person or
program. Close any programs that might be using the file and try again.

I closd every program, including those we used to call TSR. Only Explorer
was running. No luck. I even searched the registry. The filename didn't
appear.

I cannot rename or delete that file. When I copied it to another folder, I
simply doubled my displeasure. Now I can't delete either file.

Surely there's something I can do to delete it.

 

[GSV Three Minds in a Can]

I'm trying to delete a file. This is the error message:

Cannot delete filename: It is being used by another person or
program. Close any programs that might be using the file and try again.

I closd every program, including those we used to call TSR. Only Explorer
was running. No luck. I even searched the registry. The filename didn't
appear.

I cannot rename or delete that file. When I copied it to another folder, I
simply doubled my displeasure. Now I can't delete either file.

Surely there's something I can do to delete it.

1) read the reply to your other identical post.
2) cultivate some more patience. 8>.

 

[Carl Childress]

Graham:

I had already checked to see if the file was read-only. It isn't. Thanks for
the reply.

Carl

 

[Carl Childress]

Justin:

Your suggestion worked.

Why? (grin)

Carl

 

[Alex Nichol]

I'm trying to delete a file. This is the error message:

Cannot delete filename: It is being used by another person or
program. Close any programs that might be using the file and try again.

I closd every program, including those we used to call TSR. Only Explorer
was running. No luck. I even searched the registry. The filename didn't
appear.

I cannot rename or delete that file. When I copied it to another folder,I
simply doubled my displeasure. Now I can't delete either file.

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