I sometimes have trouble deleting, moving, or renaming certain files, usually video, sometimes audio. I get a message saying:
"Cannot move [name of file]: It is being used by another person or program. Close any programs that might be using the file and try again."
I've closed all programs running on the computer. I've used the Task Manager to end all processes except the bare essentials and I keep getting the same message. People always tell me to restart the computer in "safe mode", but that's a lot to go through just to delete, move, or reanme a file and even then it sometimes doesn't work. In that case I justy have to keep trying day after day and eventually it will let me do it.
How can I tell which specific program it is that is "using" a particular file? There has to be some way to see what is using it.
2007-03-21 04:41:28 · 8 answers · asked by TexBW 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Programming & Design
Yeah, this is a fairly common problem.
Download this: http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/
It will let you right click on a file and 'unlock' it. Before it unlocks, it provides you with a list of processes that are using the file, if any.
It's helped me a number of times. There is nothing more frustrating than being told that the file is being used when you KNOW GOD-DAMN WELL IT IS'NT!!!...sorry...Hope it helps!
2007-03-21 05:59:20 · answer #1 · answered by eoin2000 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Windows XP is known for doing just that and stopping you deleting files.
Normally when a program is using a file and you try to delete it you'll get the can't delete because box it also names the program but xp suddenly decides to stop you deleting it because it thinks something is using it, usually just logging of and back on cures the problem you can even reboot if you get a stubborn file
2007-03-21 04:50:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
All Windows XP editions except Server's do not come with the ability to check what process a file is being used by. A third-party utility or a bootable DOS disc (Windows 98 and prior give the option to create a bootable disc from within Windows, or you can download a bootable disc for most versions from www.bootdisk.com) are your only choices if Safe Mode does not work for you.
2007-03-21 04:50:30 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Reboot the PC in Safe Mode and then move the file(s).
2007-03-21 04:46:08 · answer #4 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Use a textual content textile editor like Notepad or observe. very own domicile page is yet another language like HTML. in case you have a HTML editor like Dreamweaver, you ought to use that to. i think of even Explorer will open it and teach the contents...
2016-10-02 12:28:41 · answer #5 · answered by thorton 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have to start it up in safe mode its the only way
2007-03-21 04:45:18 · answer #6 · answered by Liljoe12131993 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I hear you. Take a look at:
http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/
It's what I use to get by the annoying locking problem.
2007-03-21 05:25:16 · answer #7 · answered by csanon 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you can right click then click on properties to see what or how your working with files etc.
2007-03-21 04:47:59 · answer #8 · answered by Scott 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋