Windows XP File Delete Help

[SharkAttack]

I have a typical problem on XP that I accidentally fixed before but can't now. I have an audio file that won't delete from my pc. I can't move it or remove it, it always says "In use by another program". This is bull as I have tried after rebooting my pc countless occassions. When logged in as a user with no admin rights it says "File is write protected or in use".

I reckon this is a common XP problem. How can I cure it?

[marcus]

Try deleting it in DOS. Once done you should be able to remove it via mouseclicks.

This annoys the hell out of me. I put a New Folder on the Desktop for example, and use it for a while, when I decide to remove it I cant as it says its in use....

[SharkAttack]

Couldn't in DOS as it wouldn't allow me access there.

Discovered the cause already! Windows Explorer is the program "Using" the file in attempting to produce the file's thumbnail or details. Turn those off and delete! Sorted.

[marcus]

Hehe oh yeh that one.. this happened to me once also, with a video file. I tend to turn all these things off as they only slow my system down considerably.

[Kirby]

Yeah, if it's a video/image/audio file then delete the thumb.db file in the directory. It's a hidden system file though, so make sure you've set hidden files to viewable or you wont be able to see it.

[MartyG]

You'll be able to delete it if you boot from start up to DOS (via a boot disk), rather than into windows.

Regards
Marty

[Valken]

You'll be able to delete it if you boot from start up to DOS (via a boot disk), rather than into windows.

Regards
Marty

Standard dos boot discs can't access ntfs formatted drives though

[eghamninja]

This is due to one of XP's 'Features'. What happens is that the operating system scans media files to get information out of them and so locks the file meaning that they cannot be deleted.

As stated above, the best way to delete these files is to do it from a command prompt.

[MartyG]

Ah, it would appear that the home edition uses NTFS by default. Ok, well in that case I would try booting in safe mode and deleting it.

Regards
Marty

[Papercut]

If you were l33t like me () you would have seen which application had the file open using this tool:

http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/handle.shtml

then killed that process with these tools:

http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/pstools.shtml

or this one:

http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/procexp.shtml

and deleted the file.

[SharkAttack]

Or I could right click in explorer - View ---> Details. Close the detail pane down the left. Right click on file. Delete file.

[eghamninja]

If you were l33t like me () you would have seen which application had the file open using this tool:

http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/handle.shtml

then killed that process with these tools:

http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/pstools.shtml

or this one:

http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/procexp.shtml

and deleted the file.

Or if like me even |ee73r, you would open a command prompt and use some h@rdcOr3 H4x0r command line trickery to do the job.

Heh needing to download 3rd party tools

PH34r my H4x0r 5ki||z