How do I delete a file that's permanently 'in use'?

P

Pretorius

New Member
I have a video file on my hard drive that doesn't work, and when I go to delete it, I get the "currently being used by another program" message.

How do I delete it?
 
My guess would be try to disable it from loading when you start Windows by going into safe mode. Yeah... I'm trying to help, but not doing a very good job.
 
Raster said:
My guess would be try to disable it from loading when you start Windows by going into safe mode.
Click to expand...
Why would safe mode do anything? Use msconfig, start-> run-> msconfig-> startup tab.
 
Theres a similar thread right here.
And I haven't heard of a video file that is "permanently" in use.
I'm pretty sure restarting your computer, and deleting it will work. :)
 
Bobo said:
Why would safe mode do anything? Use msconfig, start-> run-> msconfig-> startup tab.
Click to expand...

Safemode acturally a good way to delete files that you cant seem to delete normally. When you enter in safe mode only the bear min is loaded so usually the file you want to delete is not in use.

When I use to use nortons virus scanner(thankfully I dont use it any more) I often had to do the virus scan in safemode in order to get it to delete the virus.
 
mgoldb2 said:
Safemode acturally a good way to delete files that you cant seem to delete normally.
Click to expand...

I know that, but he was talking about disabling progs that run at startup, which may be using that file. To disable the progs, you need to go how I said b4.
 
Bobo said:
I know that, but he was talking about disabling progs that run at startup, which may be using that file. To disable the progs, you need to go how I said b4.
Click to expand...

The point is most likly the program wont be running if you in safemode.
 
Why would safe mode do anything? Use msconfig, start-> run-> msconfig-> startup tab
Click to expand...

Because safemode loads the bare minimum in order to run your pc for trouble shooting :-). there is a good chance that this may work and it's a simple method :-). Your method Is also a good one and either just may do the trick.

Edit:

Thought I'd mention also that if the above does not work then you could always try deleting the file via the command prompt which others have had sucess in doing.
 
Last edited:
I assume this video file of yours is coded in the avi format and that you are using Windows XP?


The quick way to delete the file:

1. Open up your command promt,
2. Open your task manager and end the process 'explorer.exe',
3. Locate the file from the command promt and delete it using the command del "filename.avi"
4. Choose 'New Task' in the task manager and type 'explorer.exe' to start up explorer and your done


Permanent fix:

This registryfix fixes this issue permantly, just download it, rightclick it and choose install and you won't have this problem again.

http://www.edu.lahti.fi/~jehrukai/XP-AVIFIX.inf

(Executing this file will remove a registry key which makes explorer load shmedia.dll which is the cause to this problem).
 
Last edited:
One thing also that might be causing this is if you are using a file sharing program. If someone else is pulling that file from your PC, then it will not always let it be deleted until the file sharing program is closed.
 
One thing also that might be causing this is if you are using a file sharing program. If someone else is pulling that file from your PC, then it will not always let it be deleted until the file sharing program is closed.
Click to expand...

Oh my... Y did I not think of this? :-). Very possible.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top