Some mysterious program grabs a hold of those files you want to delete.

mewso · 06-10-2003 2:52pm #1

I'm sure this is an old one but I need to know because I've never properly solved this one. Windows XP time and again tells me that I can't delete/move a file/folder because it is being used by another program, XP particularly likes to do this when it's blatantly obvious there is no program running.
Surely there is a way to grab control and delete/move it?
Media Player seems to be one of the biggest culprits with files in your my music folder regardless of whether you are running it or not.
Save me please before I go bananas.

irishgeo · 06-10-2003 3:47pm

Thats happening to me lately.

LegacyUser · 06-10-2003 4:28pm

seems to happen alot with failed transfers, if you are ftping or kazaaing and the transfer is interupted you sometimes can't delete the partial file, boot in safe mode and delete

Capt'n Midnight · 06-10-2003 5:21pm

If on a lan then type NET FILES at the command prompt

Go to the i386 folder on the HDD or CD and run WINNT32 /cmdcons

This will give you an option to boot to a command prompt bypassing GUI etc. - you can delete almost anything there...

mewso · 06-10-2003 8:56pm

Thanks for the suggestions. I suspect if Media Player has a sound file on a playlist then it can't be moved or deleted. I also came across a suggestion to boot in safe mode. Oh well it's never easy.

Lukin Black · 06-10-2003 11:14pm

As a matter of curiousity, what file system is the drive using? I used to find it happening on FAT/32 drives constantly, but rarely on NTFS formatted drives.

pdogs · 07-10-2003 12:11am

Couple of ideas HERE

mewso · 07-10-2003 10:18am

Originally posted by Lukin Black
As a matter of curiousity, what file system is the drive using? I used to find it happening on FAT/32 drives constantly, but rarely on NTFS formatted drives.

NTFS here.

Cabaal · 09-10-2003 12:38pm

Using NTFS here, happened me a few times but usually a reboot resolves it.

A good fix is listed here http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/r1037252815
Of cousre another fix would be to get rid of XP

Ancient1 · 21-10-2003 8:55pm

I know this is an oldish thread, but i have the same problem with an avi file.
I went into safe mode through the admin account (on xp) and tried to delete a file i have in the main account, which isnt shared (duh..). However everytime i try to move the file, not only does it tell me it's being moved by another programme or user, but my whole system freezes and needs rebooting, so i cant touch it.
any way around this?
any tips short of use of force are welcome! (thats last resort)

Ancient1 · 21-10-2003 8:56pm

it's being moved

i meant "used" , sorry.

Some mysterious program grabs a hold of those files you want to delete.

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