Deleting Files

  • Thread starter Thread starter Stephen
  • Start date Start date
S

Stephen

I cannot delete a video file that I downloaded. When I try
to delete it, I get the following message:

ERROR DELETING FILE OR FOLDER
CANNOT DELETE XXXXXXXXXXX.XXX
IT IS BEING USED BY ANOTHER PERSON OR PROGRAM

No one else is using my computer & no programs are open
other than the ones that open on start up.

I would appreciate any suggestions.

Tnanks
 
Still there is some process using it. You could try this:
- open command prompt
- go to directory where the file is (use cd command)
- use ren command to rename the file, like "ren video.file video.file.del"
- reboot

The trick is that explorer won't allow you to rename files in use, but from
command prompt you can rename. Of course that doesn't work sometimes, but
then you can boot to safe mode and try rename there.

nico
 
The easiest way I have found to overcome this glitch is to
go>start\run and type in regedit and hit ok. Now click
edit at the top and then click find and type in the name
of the vid. Now if it's a complete file in the left view
panel then right click it and click delete. If it's just
an entry in the right view panel then right click it and
click delete. Now click edit and then find next. You may
have to do this several times as XP has a habit of storing
entries in duplicate and triplicate all over. Do the
edit\find next until a window comes up saying it's done
searching the registry. Be sure you delete only the
entries pertaining to the vid and nothing else. When in
doubt export the entry to a location of your choice until
you are sure your OS has suffered no ill effects then
delete it. This way if you have mistakenly exported a need
entry then you can double click it and send it back to
it's original location. This is good practice until you
become more adept at reg editing. good luck
 
from the wonderful said:
Still there is some process using it. You could try this:
- open command prompt
- go to directory where the file is (use cd command)
- use ren command to rename the file, like "ren video.file video.file.del"
- reboot

The trick is that explorer won't allow you to rename files in use, but from
command prompt you can rename. Of course that doesn't work sometimes, but
then you can boot to safe mode and try rename there.
Click to expand...

'Can't delete video files' is an FAQ .. groups.google.com 'windows XP
cannot delete .avi file' would find tons of queries and answers.
Basically explorer open the file to look at the detailed contents info
(all sorts of stuff abotu the length of the clip etc.) and doesn't seem
to give it back - especially if it's in some format WinXP isn't comfy
with. The standard fix is to open a cmd window, and task manager, use
TM to kill explorer, use the cmd window to delete the file, and then use
TM to restart a new copy of explorer.

There are also some registry changes you can make to stop explorer
nosing around inside the files in the first place, iirc.
 
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