How do I tell what process owns a file?

Hi,

I'm running WinXP and trying to delete a file from my system. But
when I right click and select "Delete" I get the error message:

Cannot delete .metadata\:Access is denied
Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is
not currently in use.

I have verified that the file is not write-protected and the disk is
not full. But I can't figure out what process is using the file in
question. Any ideas how to figure this out?

Thanks, - Dave

Try using Unlocker: http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience -
Windows Vista Enthusiast

---------------------------------------------------------------

"laredotornado" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I'm running WinXP and trying to delete a file from my system. But
when I right click and select "Delete" I get the error message:

Cannot delete .metadata\:Access is denied
Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is
not currently in use.

I have verified that the file is not write-protected and the disk is
not full. But I can't figure out what process is using the file in
question. Any ideas how to figure this out?

Thanks, - Dave

Know which process has locked a file:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/processlock.htm

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
The Winhelponline Blog: http://www.winhelponline.com/blog
Windows® Troubleshooting: http://www.winhelponline.com


"laredotornado" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I'm running WinXP and trying to delete a file from my system. But
when I right click and select "Delete" I get the error message:

Cannot delete .metadata\:Access is denied
Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is
not currently in use.

I have verified that the file is not write-protected and the disk is
not full. But I can't figure out what process is using the file in
question. Any ideas how to figure this out?

Thanks, - Dave

On Jul 1, 11:27*am, "Ramesh, MS-MVP" [email protected] wrote:
Know which process has locked a file:http://windowsxp.mvps.org/processlock..htm

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP *[Windows Shell/User]
The Winhelponline Blog:http://www.winhelponline.com/blog
Windows® Troubleshooting: *http://www.winhelponline.com

"laredotornado" wrote in message

...



Hi,

I'm running WinXP and trying to delete a file from my system. *But
when I right click and select "Delete" I get the error message:

Cannot delete .metadata\:Access is denied
Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is
not currently in use.

I have verified that the file is not write-protected and the disk is
not full. *But I can't figure out what process is using the file in
question. *Any ideas how to figure this out?

Thanks, - Dave- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks for this info. Unfortunately no process came up when using the
Process Explorer tool. Any other ideas how I might remove this most
annoying file? - Dave

Before you delete the file do a google search and read the purpose of the
file. Perhaps you may change your mind about deleting it.
"laredotornado" wrote in message
...
On Jul 1, 11:27 am, "Ramesh, MS-MVP" [email protected] wrote:
Know which process has locked a
file:http://windowsxp.mvps.org/processlock.htm

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
The Winhelponline Blog:http://www.winhelponline.com/blog
Windows® Troubleshooting: http://www.winhelponline.com

"laredotornado" wrote in message

...



Hi,

I'm running WinXP and trying to delete a file from my system. But
when I right click and select "Delete" I get the error message:

Cannot delete .metadata\:Access is denied
Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is
not currently in use.

I have verified that the file is not write-protected and the disk is
not full. But I can't figure out what process is using the file in
question. Any ideas how to figure this out?

Thanks, - Dave- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks for this info. Unfortunately no process came up when using the
Process Explorer tool. Any other ideas how I might remove this most
annoying file? - Dave

Looking at the file name, it appears that the file has special characters or
has a UNIX-style naming.

Where is the file located?

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
The Winhelponline Blog: http://www.winhelponline.com/blog
Windows® Troubleshooting: http://www.winhelponline.com


"laredotornado" wrote in message
...
On Jul 1, 11:27 am, "Ramesh, MS-MVP" [email protected] wrote:
Know which process has locked a
file:http://windowsxp.mvps.org/processlock.htm

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
The Winhelponline Blog:http://www.winhelponline.com/blog
Windows® Troubleshooting: http://www.winhelponline.com

"laredotornado" wrote in message

...



Hi,

I'm running WinXP and trying to delete a file from my system. But
when I right click and select "Delete" I get the error message:

Cannot delete .metadata\:Access is denied
Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is
not currently in use.

I have verified that the file is not write-protected and the disk is
not full. But I can't figure out what process is using the file in
question. Any ideas how to figure this out?

Thanks, - Dave- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks for this info. Unfortunately no process came up when using the
Process Explorer tool. Any other ideas how I might remove this most
annoying file? - Dave

laredotornado wrote:

Hi,

I'm running WinXP and trying to delete a file from my system. But
when I right click and select "Delete" I get the error message:

Cannot delete .metadata\:Access is denied
Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is
not currently in use.

I have verified that the file is not write-protected and the disk is
not full. But I can't figure out what process is using the file in
question. Any ideas how to figure this out?

It's an illegal file name. At a Command Prompt try using the \\.\ name
check bypass:

DEL \\.\drive letter:\path\file name

John

Why do you say illegal? I have it on my system.
"John John (MVP)" wrote in message
...
laredotornado wrote:

Hi,

I'm running WinXP and trying to delete a file from my system. But
when I right click and select "Delete" I get the error message:

Cannot delete .metadata\:Access is denied
Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is
not currently in use.

I have verified that the file is not write-protected and the disk is
not full. But I can't figure out what process is using the file in
question. Any ideas how to figure this out?

It's an illegal file name. At a Command Prompt try using the \\.\ name
check bypass:

DEL \\.\drive letter:\path\file name

John

The first character in a filename cannot be a period.

John

Unknown wrote:

Why do you say illegal? I have it on my system.
"John John (MVP)" wrote in message
...

laredotornado wrote:


Hi,

I'm running WinXP and trying to delete a file from my system. But
when I right click and select "Delete" I get the error message:

Cannot delete .metadata\:Access is denied
Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is
not currently in use.

I have verified that the file is not write-protected and the disk is
not full. But I can't figure out what process is using the file in
question. Any ideas how to figure this out?

It's an illegal file name. At a Command Prompt try using the \\.\ name
check bypass:

DEL \\.\drive letter:\path\file name

John

"illegal" in the sense, it's against Windows file naming convention.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
The Winhelponline Blog: http://www.winhelponline.com/blog
Windows® Troubleshooting: http://www.winhelponline.com


"Unknown" wrote in message
...
Why do you say illegal? I have it on my system.
"John John (MVP)" wrote in message
...
laredotornado wrote:

Hi,

I'm running WinXP and trying to delete a file from my system. But
when I right click and select "Delete" I get the error message:

Cannot delete .metadata\:Access is denied
Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is
not currently in use.

I have verified that the file is not write-protected and the disk is
not full. But I can't figure out what process is using the file in
question. Any ideas how to figure this out?

It's an illegal file name. At a Command Prompt try using the \\.\ name
check bypass:

DEL \\.\drive letter:\path\file name

John

Thanks. I didn't even see the period.
"John John (MVP)" wrote in message
...

The first character in a filename cannot be a period.

John

Unknown wrote:

Why do you say illegal? I have it on my system.
"John John (MVP)" wrote in message
...

laredotornado wrote:


Hi,

I'm running WinXP and trying to delete a file from my system. But
when I right click and select "Delete" I get the error message:

Cannot delete .metadata\:Access is denied
Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is
not currently in use.

I have verified that the file is not write-protected and the disk is
not full. But I can't figure out what process is using the file in
question. Any ideas how to figure this out?

It's an illegal file name. At a Command Prompt try using the \\.\ name
check bypass:

DEL \\.\drive letter:\path\file name

John

laredotornado wrote on 07/01/2008 13:09 ET :
Hi,

I'm running WinXP and trying to delete a file from my system. But
when I right click and select "Delete" I get the error message:

Cannot delete .metadata:Access is denied
Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is
not currently in use.

I have verified that the file is not write-protected and the disk is
not full. But I can't figure out what process is using the file in
question. Any ideas how to figure this out?

Thanks, - Dave

Try " Long Path Tool " is also useful in situations where you see
these error messages: Cannot read from source file or disk, there has been a
sharing violation, cannot delete file or folder, the file name you specified is
not valid or too long, the source or destination file may be in use & many
other file managing errors that you encounter in your computing use.

Or try in safe mode, when a lot less is running.
--


On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.

From: "stevenkor"

laredotornado wrote on 07/01/2008 13:09 ET :
Hi,

I'm running WinXP and trying to delete a file from my system. But
when I right click and select "Delete" I get the error message:
Cannot delete .metadata:Access is denied
Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is
not currently in use.

I have verified that the file is not write-protected and the disk is
not full. But I can't figure out what process is using the file in
question. Any ideas how to figure this out?

Thanks, - Dave

Try " Long Path Tool " is also useful in situations where you see


Absolutely NOT !

This is part of a spam campaign pulling up an old posts, 07/01/2008, to
maked it look like a legitimate answer. It isn't!

--
Dave
Multi-AV Scanning Tool - http://multi-av.thespykiller.co.uk
http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp