Files in Use by Another Program

[Rodney Pont]

Yes, I tried Unlocker. Problem is, it shows the file is in use only
by Windows Explorer! If I close that, I can't move the file.

You're not clicking it twice are you so that it edits the file name?

I don't have a problem in clicking a file to select it and then right
clicking for the menu to move it.

 

[relic]

Exactly - trouble is I don't want to delete the file or folder, I want
to move it. I must have Windows Explorer open to do that.

No you don't. If you don't know your DOS commands to move a file you're
better off just living with it.

 

[Jeff Layman]

Working with files in Windows 7 (Home Edition Premium 32 bit) is
maddening. I am trying to move and rename files that have not been
open for months and I keep getting the file in use message. Sometimes
there are no problems, often I can't do what I want. Usually if I
close and reopen the library the problem goes away for a while. I've
read the articles in knowledge base and they take the usual approach
of shutting down all programs. That is ridiculous! I never had to do
that in XP and see no reason why I should have to do it in 7. Does
anyone know of a way around this or of another file management utility
I can use?

Can you make a copy of the file? If so, do that and save it elsewhere,
then rename.

Then use Eraser (or something similar) to delete the original file the
next time you boot, and before Explorer gets its grip on it.

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Shoe.

Exactly - trouble is I don't want to delete the file or folder, I want to
move it. I must have Windows Explorer open to do that.

As relic hinted, once you know the full pathname of the file, just close
Windows Explorer and open a Command Prompt window. Then use the Move
command. In the Command Prompt window. just type move /? to see what I call
a mini-Help file showing the switches and parameters available with that
command.

For example:

move c:\foldername\filename.ext d:\foldername
or
move "c:\old folder\filename.exe" "c:\new folder"

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP (2002-9/30/10)
Windows Live Mail Version 2011 (Build 15.4.3508.1109) in Win7 Ultimate x64
SP1


"Shoe" wrote in message

That's what I was going to suggest next as well

Well, sort of - I would have missed the (rather important) detail about
shutting down Explorer.

To the OP - it looks pretty scary when you do that - your desktop will
look very weird until you get back restarting Explorer from the task
manager.

Exactly - trouble is I don't want to delete the file or folder, I want
to move it. I must have Windows Explorer open to do that.

 

[Flint]

Yes, I tried Unlocker. Problem is, it shows the file is in use only
by Windows Explorer! If I close that, I can't move the file.

As someone pointed out, 'media streaming' being enabled (amongst other
system processes) could be putting a lock on some files. But rather
than going through disabling a bunch of system services or
altering/disabling power management settings, you could try running
msconfig from the command prompt, and disabling everything but a
minimal windows boot, but before allowing your system to reboot, run
unlocker again on the file in question just before that, then reboot
and see if the file is gone. If it is (most likely it will be) then
reenable your system services with msconfig, and reboot once again.

 

[Yousuf Khan]

Working with files in Windows 7 (Home Edition Premium 32 bit) is
maddening. I am trying to move and rename files that have not been
open for months and I keep getting the file in use message. Sometimes
there are no problems, often I can't do what I want. Usually if I
close and reopen the library the problem goes away for a while. I've
read the articles in knowledge base and they take the usual approach
of shutting down all programs. That is ridiculous! I never had to do
that in XP and see no reason why I should have to do it in 7. Does
anyone know of a way around this or of another file management utility
I can use?

Download Unlocker 1.9.0 Free - Get rid of error message like Error
deleting file or folder, cannot delete folder: it's being used by
another person or program - Softpedia
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Miscellaneous/Unlocker.shtml

Yousuf Khan

 

[Shoe]

Download Unlocker 1.9.0 Free - Get rid of error message like Error
deleting file or folder, cannot delete folder: it's being used by
another person or program - Softpedia
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Miscellaneous/Unlocker.shtml

Yousuf Khan

One of the people in this group suggested I try LockHunter. That
program will unlock the file without closing Windows Explorer. By
using it, I was able to move the folders that I wished to move. Thanks
for the suggestion. Unlocker does not work because it will only close
the program that has the file locked (Windows Explorer).

I have not used DOS commands in years, but thanks for the move
command. I remembered it when I saw it and will try it if I need to.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

One of the people in this group suggested I try LockHunter. That
program will unlock the file without closing Windows Explorer. By
using it, I was able to move the folders that I wished to move. Thanks
for the suggestion. Unlocker does not work because it will only close
the program that has the file locked (Windows Explorer).

I have not used DOS commands in years, but thanks for the move
command. I remembered it when I saw it and will try it if I need to.

Thanks for the info about the advantage of LockHunter over Unlocker...

I hadn't known that.

 

[Zaidy036]

You need to take ownership.
This report happens because ownership is set to "trusted installer".
Once you change ownership, then you can manipulate the file as needed.

Right click on the file name.
Select properties.
Select the "security" tab.
Click on "edit".
You can now change how ownership is controlled.

Note: This MAY NOT work on previous versions of windows.

Look at following for a right-click method (works in Win 7):
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/add-take-ownership-to-explorer-
right-click-menu-in-vista/

 

[tobyg3]

Hi all, this is a couple of years later from the thread startpoint. I recently experienced this problem while trying to save changes on an open file. Here's what I noticed -
After going to the Windows Explorer window where the file resided, I selected (did not open) a different file in the window, and that allowed me to regain control of the first file, save my changes, and continue. After thinking about this a bit, I believe that the problem stems from the having the Preview option active in the Explorer window. If you choose to turn off the Preview option, that may fix the most common of these occurences. YMMV.