(Techy) How to delete a file that "is being used by another program"

[Sam]

What the title says. It's a video file and I've made sure all media players are closed when I try and delete it. It's not being shared on P2P or anything. I've tried re-starting, shutting down etc and then trying again, but to no avail.

Surely there must be some way to get rid of it?

Thanks!

(I'm on XP by the way)

[untitled_london]

open a notpad document.

save it as the same name as the file your cant get access to.

then delete it.

sometimesworks sometime doesn't

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


failing that ctrl_alt_del and kill off whatever odd looking processes in mightbe using that file.

still in task-manager kill off the exploer process, and then using the run command under the file menu re-start explorer.exe (this is a shorthand version of a re-boot) and should free up the file for you.

[mr rou-rou]

delete it under DOS , it will go

you might have to remind yourself how to navigate DOS and use the ~ and * 's

do you know how?

in fact

here's an example (R) = return

my file is on G: , a second hard drive

hit windows key + R to open a run dialogue box

type cmd (R)

this opens a DOS window

you will probably see c:\documents and settings\etc

type cd.. (R)

type it again (R) , you are now at c:\

dir /p will allow you to page through the directories (paging is done by hitting any key) on c:/ as it happens I want g:

so I type g: (R) to go there, I now have the g:/ prompt

dir /p (R) displays the directories

===
say I want to enter a directory, I type cd directory name or partial name* , example cd soulseek or cd soulse* (R)

once in the correct directory I'm looking for my file to delete
===

i want to delete a file called testdelete.txt

once in the correct directory I type del testdel*.txt (R)

gone,

type exit (R) to leave DOS

[Sam]

No!

I tried untitled's suggestions but they didn't work. Couldn't see anything in task manager that looks suspicious.

[The Region Legion]

My suggestion is not to download video files that you need to get rid of you dirty paedophile! The mob will be with you shortly.

[Sam]

Haha. Well guessed. I admit the video is of a, shall we say, unsavoury content; hence my eagerness to erase it.

[mr rou-rou]

sam, look up, I've just given you a quick tutorial

wait: cutting and pasting has left a bit off

[Bill Oddie]

Try reseting your computer


edit:


Note to self: Try reading the initial post you tit.

[Sam]

I have stumbled at the first hurdle. Pressing the windows key and return does nothing! Just to check should I be doing this while in Windows or am I meant to restart in dos?

[mr rou-rou]

oh, cd.. (R) is go back a directory

dir *.avi (R) will find all .avi files in that directory

dir *halfcompletedodgypornfilm* (R) will find find any file featuring those words

[mr rou-rou]

go to [start]

up to run, type cmd (R)

[Crazy Penis]

Start - run - regedit

navigate to the following registry key

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.avi\shellex\PropertyHandler

delete the value that appears in the right hand pane.

Alternatively you should be able to delete the file using Nero or Winrar or other programs that act as browsers

[Sam]

I just managed to delete the file by accident. I made the file hidden, went to folder options and changed from "do not show hidden files" to "show hidden files". The file then appeared but the icon was "transparent" I deleted it and this time it went. Weird. Don't why it worked but it did.

Thanks for all the tips anyway; I'll try to remember those for the future.

That'll teach to download dodgy pr0n off Kazaa. :)

[Rats]

Hey, that's happened to me before when I downloaded a dirty vido off of kazaa in a drunken trousers round the ankles style stupour. I couldn't delete it after pleasuring myself ( a lovely image for you all there on a sunday evening, my gurning pig fat face) and my processor was being used full whack. When I restarted, I still couldn't delete it. In the processes thingy, there was apparantly nothing using ungodly amounts of power. Here's how I got rid if it ever happens again.

If you look at the "performance" gizmo in the task manager, your processors going full whack but for about 10 seconds every few minutes it would go back to normal. I had to wait until it calmed down and then I was able to delete it.

I can't remember what the file was called, preggoshitmouth.avi or something.

[BagJob]

Hi

I've had this problem with large avi files before. The best solution I found was to use a program 'GiPo@moveonboot'.

http://www.gibinsoft.net/gipoutils/index.htm

Go to Utilities then scroll down to download a freeware version. Once its installed you can select the file to be deleted on the next system boot. Hope that helps.

[El Unicornio, mang]

The quickest way is to download a free program called 'Dr Delete', and use that. Works every time.
www.docsdownloads.com/dr-delete.htm

[weekender]

I thought this was a problem because XP shows the first frame of the video file as part of a thumbnail image, and therefore deems the file to be in use.  Turn thumbnails off and it should delete fine, no need to fuck around with DOS prompts or dodgy programs.

[largerthanlife]

Aherm...

This isn't my first post really, I've been here before but been absent for a while. (2 Years+?)

Not wanting to complicate matters, but just because a file is 'deleted' in Windows, dosent mean that it is deleted. It is just hidden from view. There are applications out there that can easily recover all sorts of 'deleted' files.

You might like to get a free space cleaner, or something like that. It over writes the space where the file was stored on the hard drive with random shite so  recovery of those sectors is futile.

I'm sure your significant other wont go to these extreems to discover your 'interesting' audio visual files.

Just to let you know like.

[mr rou-rou]

absent for 2 years, intriguing.

I wouldn't dismiss knowing basic DOS commands, it still has it's uses.

I have Norton AV installed and the first stage of deletion goes to the bin as normal, empty bin and its gone? nope!

This still lets you use undelete features to recover the files, you have to use the 'purge' function to finally see the back of it....just in passing in case anyone was new to Norton or running out of space and afraid to click the 'purge' button, I know I was.

[untitled_london]

Hey, that's happened to me before when I downloaded a dirty vido off of kazaa in a drunken trousers round the ankles style stupour. I couldn't delete it after pleasuring myself ( a lovely image for you all there on a sunday evening, my gurning pig fat face) and my processor was being used full whack. When I restarted, I still couldn't delete it. In the processes thingy, there was apparantly nothing using ungodly amounts of power. Here's how I got rid if it ever happens again.

If you look at the "performance" gizmo in the task manager, your processors going full whack but for about 10 seconds every few minutes it would go back to normal. I had to wait until it calmed down and then I was able to delete it.

I can't remember what the file was called, preggoshitmouth.avi or something.

too bloody funny - cheers for that mate

[Cheese Arse H Christ]

It happens a lot with .avi files (espesh big ones) and I was suffering with one earlier today. This worked for me this time, but I have also had it not work too.....

Right click the file, then choose rename, and although it may say "file in use", quite often it doesn't, and once renamed it can be deleted as normal

[DuncanC]

I hear this is to do with Windows XP's auto-thumbnailing bollocks, which can't always read AVIs right (it's always AVIs as far as I've heard) and it's the actual WIMP layer or whatever it is that's "using" the file. (Yes, even if you aren't in thumbnail mode, even if that directory isn't open.) There seems to be loads of different ways to get around it, none of which always work.

[megatwat]

What is this, "dodgy porn fiends tech help corner"? A bit like gardeners question time but for people with kiddie porn on their desktops?

I only ask, cos there's this video I have off kazaa.........

[largerthanlife]

For all concerned with these matters, and those with a spare £21 can get this.

http://www.oo-software.com/en/products/oose/index.html

Not used it but it got 9/10 in this months PcPlus.

Else, someone might get this and find you out!

http://www.oo-software.com/en/products/ooue/index.html

[Crazy Penis]

But loooook. no need to spend money. Clicky the link.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=propertyhandler+avi&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&meta=