Comments on: Undeletable file

Question: Undeletable file

Meatbomb — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 01:27:34 -0800

On Windows XP, I have a problem deleting an .avi file. Please help?

It always says "another program or user is using this file", even after restart. I know it really is an .avi, as i watched it once long ago. I have other .avi files that behave normally...

Any idea how I can delete this mother, and / or why it seems to be locked like this?

By: Firas

Firas — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 01:30:21 -0800

Maybe WhoLockMe can help? I haven't tried the utility out though. I sympathize; I despise that message—I want the damn computer to do what I tell it to!

By: Akeem

Akeem — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 01:34:41 -0800

Try disabling the "indexing service to index this disk for fast file searching" in the properties of the Hard Drive.

Alternativley, there are utilities that will delete/remove a file after a reboot, during windows boot up.

By: Firas

Firas — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 01:35:55 -0800

Also, if push comes to shove and you need to browbeat the PC, boot using a Kanotix Linux LiveCD and open the drive in there and hit delete on the file. I mainly suggest this because I'm surprised that a restart doesn't take care of your problem.

By: whir

whir — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 01:40:17 -0800

Booting in safe mode (keep hitting F8 while it's starting up, before you get to the Win XP loading screen) and then trying to delete it would be the next step I would try, and might be simpler than te above (though they're all good ideas).

By: Rhomboid

Rhomboid — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 01:40:24 -0800

It's because you're trying to delete it in Explorer, which tries to open the file to generate a thumbnail preview when you select it. However, if the file is slightly corrupted or malformed in some way, this fails and it leaves a handle open.

You can verify this by using Process Explorer's "search handles" function - just enter part of the filename and it will tell you the process. I bet $5 that it will show "explorer.exe".

Kill that process and delete it from the command prompt.

Then disable that god awful AVI preview bullshit.

By: blag

blag — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 03:30:24 -0800

Rhomboid is correct: this is a bug in XP which is triggered by a corrupt DivX .avi file. When you go to view the file in explorer, it tries to read the entire contents of the file in order to produce a thumbnail. If the file is corrupt, the process just hangs but leaves the file "locked" so that other programs can't alter it. Apparently it is the fault of shmedia.dll, for those that are interested...

Step-by-step instructions to get rid of it:

Open a Command Prompt window and leave it open. Close all open programs.

Click Start, Run and enter TASKMGR.EXE

Go to the Processes tab and End Process on Explorer.exe. Leave Task Manager open.

Go back to the Command Prompt window and change to the directory the .avi (or other undeletable file) is located in.

At the command prompt type DEL filename where filename is the file you wish to delete.

Go back to Task Manager, click File, New Task and enter EXPLORER.EXE to restart the GUI shell.

Close Task Manager.

By: suni

suni — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 05:09:20 -0800

process explorer (free) shows you which program uses/locks a certainf ile at the moment
a pretty essential winxp tool imo

By: suni

suni — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 05:11:58 -0800

certain file* hmpf

By: Meatbomb

Meatbomb — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 05:29:10 -0800

Thanks to all who answered... lots of easy to follow advice here.

By: gramcracker

gramcracker — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 06:04:54 -0800

You can also set Windows via a registry key so it doesn't try to read AVI files. There are a ton of links--just Google it.

By: skrike

skrike — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 11:00:56 -0800

This happens to me a lot. When I delete files I usually right click them and hit delete, or I left click and drag them to the recycle bin and select move here from the pop up. Ive found that almost all the time these dont work, a simple right drag to the recycle bin works where nothing else does. Dunno why. Maybe its just my system.

By: Navek Rednam

Navek Rednam — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 14:16:54 -0800

There's a program called MoveOnBoot that will delete a file before it has a chance to be locked by the system.

By: sophist

sophist — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 02:23:05 -0800

I second Navek's suggestion of MoveOnBoot. I have used it numerous times for this exact problem with 100% success.