help with deleting

[Des]

I have a problem with deleting files sometimes. I have a movie now I don't need anymore and it says cannot delete 8 mile: It is being used by another person or program. Close any programs that might be using the file and try again.

The problem is I am not using any program. Kazaa and all that is not running...And then if i try again an hour later or so I can delete it, and I haven't closed any programs. Also if i reboot I can delete it, but if I wait a lil longer, it says I can't delete anymore with the same message. (and I haven't opened any programs)

Can someone have access to my files on XP and how does it work? I haven't set sharing for any files. HELP!!!

Thx

[dealforme]

try rebooting your system. I get that occasionally with a WinOS, that the file locking gets really confused and requires rebooting to release the file in question

[Hippak]

I have a problem with deleting files sometimes.  I have a movie now I don't need anymore and it says cannot delete 8 mile: It is being used by another person or program.  Close any programs that might be using the file and try again.

The problem is I am not using any program.  Kazaa and all that is not running...And then if i try again an hour later or so I can delete it, and I haven't closed any programs.  Also if i reboot I can delete it, but if I wait a lil longer, it says I can't delete anymore with the same message. (and I haven't opened any programs)

Can someone have access to my files on XP and how does it work?  I haven't set sharing for any files.  HELP!!!

Thx

In windows explorer just keep the file highlighted for about 20 seconds and then delete it and it'll delete. You can also just double click on it and after it loads in Windows media player close media player and try deleting it :) Should work.

[enforcerviper]

happens to me sometimes as well... All you have to do is go to your command prompt and delete it from there.

[dealforme]

Can someone have access to my files on XP and how does it work?  I haven't set sharing for any files.  HELP!!!

Yes, WinXP/NT/2K drives can be access using the drive mapping feature and using drive letters of c$ (c drive for example). Make sure you have the guest user disabled and your Administrator password something cryptic (something that you must remember as well)

[Zippity]

hehe... you probably have the movie preview in explorer..... if that's reading it, you can't delete.

[TCS]

I sometimes get that if I right click to delete it. So I just highlight it and press delete on my keyboard.

[jed]

I've got some recovered files that do the same thing. Tried in safe mode, at a command prompt, tried changing file attributes, and there are a couple that will not delete. I'm thinking the only way to get rid of them is I am going to have to reformat. Running Win XP Pro, SP1, NTFS hdd.

[advantage21]

I've got some recovered files that do the same thing.  Tried in safe mode, at a command prompt, tried changing file attributes, and there are a couple that will not delete.  I'm thinking the only way to get rid of them is I am going to have to reformat.  Running Win XP Pro, SP1, NTFS hdd.

The NTFS entry for these files maybe corrupted. There is a little utility called kaldirtree.exe that I downloaded from somewhere that will try to remove the entire directory that might work for you.

[Des]

thx for the help. I am able to delete the file using command prompt and also by highlighting it for about 15 secs and then pressing delete...don't know the logic behind it but it works. Thanks

[enforcerviper]

thx for the help.  I am able to delete the file using command prompt and also by highlighting it for about 15 secs and then pressing delete...don't know the logic behind it but it works.  Thanks

Do I get a cookie? or at least half a cookie? :P

[Des]

thx for the help. I am able to delete the file using command prompt and also by highlighting it for about 15 secs and then pressing delete...don't know the logic behind it but it works. Thanks

Do I get a cookie? or at least half a cookie? :P

if you lived in bc, u would get a cookie for sure haha

[Starcraftjunkie]

thx for the help. I am able to delete the file using command prompt and also by highlighting it for about 15 secs and then pressing delete...don't know the logic behind it but it works. Thanks

like someone said above, it's sometimes due to having the movie having been played on a player and staying on the 'current' list.
I've had it happen a few times, and I just open another vid or music file. Then you can go ahead and delete as normal from Windows.

Of course, it could be something else entirely. :P but that's my take.

[blood]

simple- drag it out of windows explorer onto the desktop, then drag it to recycle bin, try to empty recycle bin, if it wont, then reboot and it will

[dback42]

I get this message when trying to delete certain files:

" Error Deleting file or folder
X Cannot delete file: Cannot read from the source file or disk "


How do I get around this to delete the file, in this case one related to spyware?

[xKagex]

I have a problem with deleting files sometimes. I have a movie now I don't need anymore and it says cannot delete 8 mile: It is being used by another person or program. Close any programs that might be using the file and try again.

The problem is I am not using any program. Kazaa and all that is not running...And then if i try again an hour later or so I can delete it, and I haven't closed any programs. Also if i reboot I can delete it, but if I wait a lil longer, it says I can't delete anymore with the same message. (and I haven't opened any programs)

Can someone have access to my files on XP and how does it work? I haven't set sharing for any files. HELP!!!

Thx

This generally happens with AVI files.
The problem is that Windows XP reads the entire contents of the file into memory before even allowing you access to it (i.e. - when you click to highlight the file or right click to view the Properties). The bug responsible for this behavior is the file shmedia.dll which is in your System folder and called into play by the registry. Thus to fix this problem, all we need to do is delete the problem key so that shmedia.dll will no longer be used when you click a video file.
Click Start>Run, type REGEDIT and click Ok. Then make your way to this InProcServer32 key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE >SOFTWARE >Classes > CLSID > {87D62D94-71B3-4b9a-9489-5FE6850DC73E}> InProcServer32

Right click the InProcServer32 key and choose Delete. And that's all there is to it. This will prevent Windows from loading shmedia.dll when you work with video files and thus you should no longer have problems deleting or moving any video files. Also if you have a video file you can't delete now, deleting this key will allow you to do so. If not, log out and log in again to delete the file.

*messing with your registry can be dangerous, make changes at your own risk*

[dback42]

I get this message when trying to delete certain files:

" Error Deleting file or folder
X Cannot delete file: Cannot read from the source file or disk "


How do I get around this to delete the file, in this case one related to spyware?
???

[TotallyKiller]

Happens to me all the time too. Especially when I try to drag it somewhere. Often if I cut it and paste it into the recycle bin then it works.