Why... Error Deleting File or Folder

[George]

I'm using a WinXP-pro PC, sometimes when I've been working in a folder (and
I think working somehow with a given file), I'll go back in there and try to
delete that file and will get...

--------------------------------------------------------
Error Deleting File or Folder
--------------------------------------------------------
(X) Cannot delete [filename.is.here]: It is being used by another person
or program. Close any programs that might be using the file and try again
--------------------------------------------------------


Problem is, I already 'closed' the program, and nothing (as far as I can
tell) is running, I go all the way back to just plain desktop.

I keep getting this error if I try to delete for the next maybe 10-15
minutes, then after that when I go back there, I can delete it (as if it
finally freed up).

OR, I can shut down the PC and re-start, then it lets me delete it.

Is this a known problem of Windows "hanging" or is there something in
Alt-Cntl-Del that is running and takes 15 minutes to 'eventually' shut down?

There's no pattern to the files..can be anything... a download for my GPS, a
Word file, an executable or non-executable. Only common thing is I've been
"viewing" the file and folder using everyday My Documents or Windows File
Explorer.

Thanks,
George

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I'm using a WinXP-pro PC, sometimes when I've been working in a folder
(and I think working somehow with a given file), I'll go back in there and
try to delete that file and will get...

--------------------------------------------------------
Error Deleting File or Folder
--------------------------------------------------------
(X) Cannot delete [filename.is.here]: It is being used by another person
or program. Close any programs that might be using the file and try again
--------------------------------------------------------


Problem is, I already 'closed' the program, and nothing (as far as I can
tell) is running, I go all the way back to just plain desktop.

I keep getting this error if I try to delete for the next maybe 10-15
minutes, then after that when I go back there, I can delete it (as if it
finally freed up).

OR, I can shut down the PC and re-start, then it lets me delete it.

Is this a known problem of Windows "hanging" or is there something in
Alt-Cntl-Del that is running and takes 15 minutes to 'eventually' shut
down?

There's no pattern to the files..can be anything... a download for my GPS,
a Word file, an executable or non-executable. Only common thing is I've
been "viewing" the file and folder using everyday My Documents or Windows
File Explorer.

Thanks,
George

This is not a known problem of "Windows hanging" (otherwise we
would have known about it a long time ago!). A far more likely cause
is some software you loaded, e.g. a virus scanner, malware detector
or undelete program. If you really want to know what it is, do this:
- Click Start / Run / cmd{OK}
- Type this command:
oh | find /i "george.doc"{Enter}
(assuming that "george.doc" is the name of the file you're unable to
delete).
You can download oh.exe from here. It's written for Win2000 but it
runs under WinXP too.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...7A-83B2-4FB1-9B6A-DE8D28F72329&displaylang=en

 

[Gerry]

George

Try deleting in Safe mode.


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[3c273]

Use Process Explorer (freeware) to see what is using the file. Google for
it. Maybe the program you're using does some cleanup work in the background
before it terminates.
Louis

 

[Gerry]

Do you mean Process Explorer or another similarly named application from
the same source?


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Use Process Explorer (freeware) to see what is using the file. Google
for it. Maybe the program you're using does some cleanup work in the
background before it terminates.
Louis

I'm using a WinXP-pro PC, sometimes when I've been working in a
folder (and I think working somehow with a given file), I'll go back
in there and try to delete that file and will get...

--------------------------------------------------------
Error Deleting File or Folder
--------------------------------------------------------
(X) Cannot delete [filename.is.here]: It is being used by another
person or program. Close any programs that might be using the file
and try again
--------------------------------------------------------


Problem is, I already 'closed' the program, and nothing (as far as I
can tell) is running, I go all the way back to just plain desktop.

I keep getting this error if I try to delete for the next maybe 10-15
minutes, then after that when I go back there, I can delete it (as
if it finally freed up).

OR, I can shut down the PC and re-start, then it lets me delete it.

Is this a known problem of Windows "hanging" or is there something
in Alt-Cntl-Del that is running and takes 15 minutes to 'eventually'
shut down?

There's no pattern to the files..can be anything... a download for
my GPS, a Word file, an executable or non-executable. Only common
thing is I've been "viewing" the file and folder using everyday My
Documents or Windows File Explorer.

Thanks,
George