Cannot Delete a file

[Ted Gervais]

I just found that I have a file on my system (one I downloaded) that I can't
delete.
When I try to kill it (delete it), a message pops up and says :

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

So I checked to see what else was running or using that program and nothing
was found. I shut the computer off and restarted it. Hoping this would kill
whatever was using the program. Same thing. The program is STILL being used
by another person or program??

How can I delete this file?

[johnf]

Ted Gervais wrote:
> I just found that I have a file on my system (one I downloaded) that
> I can't delete.
> When I try to kill it (delete it), a message pops up and says :
>
> " Cannot delete (the file). It is being used by another person or
> program. Close any programs that might be using the file and try
> again"..
>
> So I checked to see what else was running or using that program and
> nothing was found. I shut the computer off and restarted it. Hoping
> this would kill whatever was using the program. Same thing. The
> program is STILL being used by another person or program??
>
> How can I delete this file?

Try it in Safe Mode.
--
johnf
(when replying direct, please ensure my address ends with .au)

[johnf]

Ted Gervais wrote:
> I just found that I have a file on my system (one I downloaded) that
> I can't delete.
> When I try to kill it (delete it), a message pops up and says :
>
> " Cannot delete (the file). It is being used by another person or
> program. Close any programs that might be using the file and try
> again"..
>
> So I checked to see what else was running or using that program and
> nothing was found. I shut the computer off and restarted it. Hoping
> this would kill whatever was using the program. Same thing. The
> program is STILL being used by another person or program??
>
> How can I delete this file?

Try it in Safe Mode.
--
johnf
(when replying direct, please ensure my address ends with .au)

[Ted Gervais]

Hello Kelly, and others on the list.

Thank you very much for the tip on how to delete this file. It worked just
as you said. Obviously you have done things like this before. I was getting
pretty desparate in finding a way to remove this file. I bet the attributes
or permissions were changed, somehow. Thanks again for the great tip and
maybe this might be of some use to others on the list.

By the , I wonder how this happened? Why did the file suddenly become
undeletable?


"Kelly" > wrote in message
...
> Hi Ted,
>
> Close all open apps. Open a command prompt (Start/Run/CMD) and navigate to
> the directory with the offending file(s). Then open the Task Manager and
> click on the Processes tab, select "explorer.exe" under Image Name. Click
> "End Process".
>
> In the opened Command Prompt, DEL the offending files (DEL *.mpg, DEL
> mus*.avi, DEL test.wmv, etc.) Once done, go back to the task manager and
> click on the Applications tab. Click the "New Task..." button. in the
> dialog, type explorer.exe and click OK.
>
> Note: Could also opt for: ATTRIB -H -R -S filename before the DEL.
>
> Or you can use Process Explorer
> http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/procexp.shtml
>
> Use the search function to find every handle that Explorer.Exe has open
and
> close them (right-click on the file and choose 'close handle'). Then
delete
> the file(s) in question.
>
> --
> All the Best,
> Kelly
>
> MS-MVP Win98/XP-Shell/User [AE-Windows® XP]
> Troubleshooting Windows XP
> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com
> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm
> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
>
>
> "Ted Gervais" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I just found that I have a file on my system (one I downloaded) that I
> can't
> > delete.
> > When I try to kill it (delete it), a message pops up and says :
> >
> > " Cannot delete (the file). It is being used by another person or
program.
> > Close any programs that might be using the file and try again"..
> >
> > So I checked to see what else was running or using that program and
> nothing
> > was found. I shut the computer off and restarted it. Hoping this would
> kill
> > whatever was using the program. Same thing. The program is STILL being
> used
> > by another person or program??
> >
> > How can I delete this file?
> >
> >
>

[Ted Gervais]

Hello Kelly, and others on the list.

Thank you very much for the tip on how to delete this file. It worked just
as you said. Obviously you have done things like this before. I was getting
pretty desparate in finding a way to remove this file. I bet the attributes
or permissions were changed, somehow. Thanks again for the great tip and
maybe this might be of some use to others on the list.

By the , I wonder how this happened? Why did the file suddenly become
undeletable?


"Kelly" > wrote in message
...
> Hi Ted,
>
> Close all open apps. Open a command prompt (Start/Run/CMD) and navigate to
> the directory with the offending file(s). Then open the Task Manager and
> click on the Processes tab, select "explorer.exe" under Image Name. Click
> "End Process".
>
> In the opened Command Prompt, DEL the offending files (DEL *.mpg, DEL
> mus*.avi, DEL test.wmv, etc.) Once done, go back to the task manager and
> click on the Applications tab. Click the "New Task..." button. in the
> dialog, type explorer.exe and click OK.
>
> Note: Could also opt for: ATTRIB -H -R -S filename before the DEL.
>
> Or you can use Process Explorer
> http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/procexp.shtml
>
> Use the search function to find every handle that Explorer.Exe has open
and
> close them (right-click on the file and choose 'close handle'). Then
delete
> the file(s) in question.
>
> --
> All the Best,
> Kelly
>
> MS-MVP Win98/XP-Shell/User [AE-Windows® XP]
> Troubleshooting Windows XP
> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com
> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm
> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
>
>
> "Ted Gervais" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I just found that I have a file on my system (one I downloaded) that I
> can't
> > delete.
> > When I try to kill it (delete it), a message pops up and says :
> >
> > " Cannot delete (the file). It is being used by another person or
program.
> > Close any programs that might be using the file and try again"..
> >
> > So I checked to see what else was running or using that program and
> nothing
> > was found. I shut the computer off and restarted it. Hoping this would
> kill
> > whatever was using the program. Same thing. The program is STILL being
> used
> > by another person or program??
> >
> > How can I delete this file?
> >
> >
>

[Kelly]

You are very welcome, Ted and glad it worked for you. However, it is a
major XP issue, so don't fret too much over it.

However, some users claim they haven't ever had the issue, some claim they
have always had the issue and some claim that the issue came about one day.

--
All the Best,
Kelly

MS-MVP Win98/XP-Shell/User [AE-Windows® XP]
Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm


"Ted Gervais" > wrote in message
...
>
> Hello Kelly, and others on the list.
>
> Thank you very much for the tip on how to delete this file. It worked
just
> as you said. Obviously you have done things like this before. I was
getting
> pretty desparate in finding a way to remove this file. I bet the
attributes
> or permissions were changed, somehow. Thanks again for the great tip and
> maybe this might be of some use to others on the list.
>
> By the , I wonder how this happened? Why did the file suddenly become
> undeletable?
>
>
> "Kelly" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hi Ted,
> >
> > Close all open apps. Open a command prompt (Start/Run/CMD) and navigate
to
> > the directory with the offending file(s). Then open the Task Manager and
> > click on the Processes tab, select "explorer.exe" under Image Name.
Click
> > "End Process".
> >
> > In the opened Command Prompt, DEL the offending files (DEL *.mpg, DEL
> > mus*.avi, DEL test.wmv, etc.) Once done, go back to the task manager and
> > click on the Applications tab. Click the "New Task..." button. in the
> > dialog, type explorer.exe and click OK.
> >
> > Note: Could also opt for: ATTRIB -H -R -S filename before the DEL.
> >
> > Or you can use Process Explorer
> > http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/procexp.shtml
> >
> > Use the search function to find every handle that Explorer.Exe has open
> and
> > close them (right-click on the file and choose 'close handle'). Then
> delete
> > the file(s) in question.
> >
> > --
> > All the Best,
> > Kelly
> >
> > MS-MVP Win98/XP-Shell/User [AE-Windows® XP]
> > Troubleshooting Windows XP
> > http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com
> > http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm
> > http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
> >
> >
> > "Ted Gervais" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > I just found that I have a file on my system (one I downloaded) that I
> > can't
> > > delete.
> > > When I try to kill it (delete it), a message pops up and says :
> > >
> > > " Cannot delete (the file). It is being used by another person or
> program.
> > > Close any programs that might be using the file and try again"..
> > >
> > > So I checked to see what else was running or using that program and
> > nothing
> > > was found. I shut the computer off and restarted it. Hoping this would
> > kill
> > > whatever was using the program. Same thing. The program is STILL
being
> > used
> > > by another person or program??
> > >
> > > How can I delete this file?
> > >
> > >
> >
>
>

[Kelly]

You are very welcome, Ted and glad it worked for you. However, it is a
major XP issue, so don't fret too much over it.

However, some users claim they haven't ever had the issue, some claim they
have always had the issue and some claim that the issue came about one day.

--
All the Best,
Kelly

MS-MVP Win98/XP-Shell/User [AE-Windows® XP]
Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm


"Ted Gervais" > wrote in message
...
>
> Hello Kelly, and others on the list.
>
> Thank you very much for the tip on how to delete this file. It worked
just
> as you said. Obviously you have done things like this before. I was
getting
> pretty desparate in finding a way to remove this file. I bet the
attributes
> or permissions were changed, somehow. Thanks again for the great tip and
> maybe this might be of some use to others on the list.
>
> By the , I wonder how this happened? Why did the file suddenly become
> undeletable?
>
>
> "Kelly" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hi Ted,
> >
> > Close all open apps. Open a command prompt (Start/Run/CMD) and navigate
to
> > the directory with the offending file(s). Then open the Task Manager and
> > click on the Processes tab, select "explorer.exe" under Image Name.
Click
> > "End Process".
> >
> > In the opened Command Prompt, DEL the offending files (DEL *.mpg, DEL
> > mus*.avi, DEL test.wmv, etc.) Once done, go back to the task manager and
> > click on the Applications tab. Click the "New Task..." button. in the
> > dialog, type explorer.exe and click OK.
> >
> > Note: Could also opt for: ATTRIB -H -R -S filename before the DEL.
> >
> > Or you can use Process Explorer
> > http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/procexp.shtml
> >
> > Use the search function to find every handle that Explorer.Exe has open
> and
> > close them (right-click on the file and choose 'close handle'). Then
> delete
> > the file(s) in question.
> >
> > --
> > All the Best,
> > Kelly
> >
> > MS-MVP Win98/XP-Shell/User [AE-Windows® XP]
> > Troubleshooting Windows XP
> > http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com
> > http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm
> > http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
> >
> >
> > "Ted Gervais" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > I just found that I have a file on my system (one I downloaded) that I
> > can't
> > > delete.
> > > When I try to kill it (delete it), a message pops up and says :
> > >
> > > " Cannot delete (the file). It is being used by another person or
> program.
> > > Close any programs that might be using the file and try again"..
> > >
> > > So I checked to see what else was running or using that program and
> > nothing
> > > was found. I shut the computer off and restarted it. Hoping this would
> > kill
> > > whatever was using the program. Same thing. The program is STILL
being
> > used
> > > by another person or program??
> > >
> > > How can I delete this file?
> > >
> > >
> >
>
>