Can't delete a file

[james636]

Sorry if this isn't the correct place to place this post. I have an avi file on my computer that I can't delete. Whenever I attempt to delete the file, I get an error messege that states, " Can not delete 'file name'. Its being used by another person or program." The program is not being used by any other person or program that I know of. I restart and attempt to delete, but still no go. What can I do?

[andyp1]

It's obviously an avi file you are trying to delete and you have XP right ?

Some people change the file extension to something other than .avi and delete it.

What I find works for me is - Click 'start' then 'Run' and type in
REGSVR32 /U SHMEDIA.DLL
Then click Ok when the box comes up.

Delete the file

Then Click 'Start' then 'Run' and type in
REGSVR32 SHMEDIA.DLL
Then click OK when the box comes up and everything is back to normal.

[mats.hogberg]

...or delete it using the command line.

/Mats

[james636]

Thanks andyp1, your post worked

[Capmaster]

It's obviously an avi file you are trying to delete and you have XP right ?

Some people change the file extension to something other than .avi and delete it.

What I find works for me is - Click 'start' then 'Run' and type in
REGSVR32 /U SHMEDIA.DLL
Then click Ok when the box comes up.

Delete the file

Then Click 'Start' then 'Run' and type in
REGSVR32 SHMEDIA.DLL
Then click OK when the box comes up and everything is back to normal.

I'll have to write that down. I'm constantly being denied deletion priviledges for video files I have been letting them accumulate, then running in safe mode to delete. This is much easier.

Thanks for the tip

[airwid]

I get that message also. I capture in Ulead VideoStudio 7.0, and make create DVD Menus and burn the DVD in DVD MovieFactory 2.0. I find when I delete the .dwz file in DVD MovieFactory that is associated with the captured .avi in VS, I can then delete the avi file. Not sure if that is what XP is doing for you also, but I just go through this routine b/c it reminds me to delete dvd moviefactory files I don't need anymore.

[Capmaster]

I get that message also. I capture in Ulead VideoStudio 7.0, and make create DVD Menus and burn the DVD in DVD MovieFactory 2.0. I find when I delete the .dwz file in DVD MovieFactory that is associated with the captured .avi in VS, I can then delete the avi file. Not sure if that is what XP is doing for you also, but I just go through this routine b/c it reminds me to delete dvd moviefactory files I don't need anymore.

I'm running Win2K. Funny that I'm also running DVDMF2. Never tried your method though. Hmmm ....

[andyp1]

Glad it worked guys.

The good thing about that method is that you are not altering the registry permenantly , which has risks if you get it wrong , also once you have gone through it once , the lines are remembered for future use.

I only ever typed it in once , now when I click Start and run , I just click the drop down box and click on the line I want and thats it.

Happy Deleting.

[Capmaster]

Glad it worked guys.

The good thing about that method is that you are not altering the registry permenantly , which has risks if you get it wrong , also once you have gone through it once , the lines are remembered for future use.

I only ever typed it in once , now when I click Start and run , I just click the drop down box and click on the line I want and thats it.

Happy Deleting.

You only tried it once. Coincidentally, wasn't that just before your HD reformatted itself? Just kidding I prefer the command line approaches over getting into the habit of editing the registry. Probably because I don't always back it up before changing it. I've never been bitten, but one day ....

[james636]

andyp1, you're a good man. Sorry or woman

[Capmaster]

andyp1, you're a good man. Sorry or woman

He's a man. You should see some of the fine creations he has made with Photoshop and a GIF animator for the Off Topic forum He's our resident Michaelangelo

[chicola]

You just need:

http://download.divfix.maxeline.com/xpavifix.zip

Fixes Windows XP's bug where you can't delete corrupted AVI files
(Thanks to Andreas Rudi Sovik for his patch!) (zip, 21k)

[alsyed]

You just need:

http://download.divfix.maxeline.com/xpavifix.zip

Fixes Windows XP's bug where you can't delete corrupted AVI files
(Thanks to Andreas Rudi Sovik for his patch!) (zip, 21k)

Awesome buddy! I regularly get the problem with huge avi files, heating up the cpu like no bodies business until they are unlocked.. sometimes takes more than 20 minutes aaarrrrgh, so this works a charm..

the method "regsvr32 /u shmedia.dll" works but its not too good because you have to constantly redo it, because in thumbnail view you can't see the thumbnails, so this works well.

[johns0]

I find that i can cut and paste the avi to another folder or desktop and then i can delete it.