cannot move\rename files

[ecos]

hello

sometimes when I try to rename\move\delete video files (especially avi mpg etc) I get en error "cannot do this, file is being used" without actually playing this file

I have winxp home sp2

I figured out that the player uses the file whenever it tries to creat a preview and I set all my folders view to be "in details" (no view "in thumbnails") so that the video files wont be used each time I open the folder

after this the problem still happens sometimes

I tried to associate these file types with either wmp or vlc (my main video players) but the problem persists whatever video player is associated with

can you tell me please how to fix this annoying problem?

thanks!

[guns1inger]

Try unlocker -> http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/

[aguillon]

Yeah, same problem here - solution is to disable the thumbnail preview in the shell extentions or something like that.

However, here s a real easy solution for you: Do not use Windows Explorer, use another program instead!!!

I use 2xplorer and have no more such problems (I got it so that I can display 2 windows side by side by default, just like the Explorer we used to have in Windows 3.1).

Cheers

[mats.hogberg]

...or use the command line to rename/copy/move

/Mats

[Faustus]

There is indeed a registry entry that can be removed.

When its removed Windows no longer tires to poll Divx files for additional informations. Sometimes when it tries this it can't get past it. When that happens the file is marked as IN USE.

It should be.
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.aviShellEx{FFB699E0-306A-11d3-8BD1-00104B6F7516}]

But of course do so at your OWN risk.

[Bjs]

The orginal sollution to this problem without mucking with the registry is :

Hit CTRL + ALT + DEL , only once and you'll get the windows task monitor up .

Goto start , program files , accessories , click command prompt .

Go back to windows task monitor , sellect explorer.exe , then end process .

Now back in dos pompt box , type this

cd..

Do this till you get back too c:\

Now where was file ?

Lets say file was called Angels_of_glory.avi , and its on d:\ , so type

D:

Hit enter

Del angels_of_glory.avi

Hit Enter

Should the file reside in a folder on say d: , you need to do this after the pompt

d:\ cd myfiles (cd means change dirrectory)

Hit enter , then repeat the del part

When done close that command propt box .

Go back too windows task monitor , sellect the application tab , sellect the button "new task" , browse to windows folder , sellect Explorer.exe

Your now back up and running with the affending file gone .

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

This has to do with msn messenger , part of it , being intergated into the os is trying to be helpfull by displaying thumbnails , this has nothing to do with windows explorer itself .

The easy way to remove the problem is to use the tool xpantispy , and totally remove msn messenger , I dont use it anyway , and it shouldnt be installed by default .

Xpantispy gives you the option to uninstall msn messenger , I recommend this due to hackers having already caused major headaches for newbies .

[ecos]

thank you for your replies

but the main problem actually is when I try to rename files....

and becomes annoying to do every time time-consuming procedures

thanks

[Faustus]

The only way to make it stop is the registry fix I was talking about sadly.

[guns1inger]

Have you tried unlocker ? I have had it on one of my machines for a few months. I have only needed it a couple of times, but every time it has worked as advertised.

[fritzi93]

Thanks for the Unlocker link. Makes me laugh to see that magic wand in the right-click menu. (O Fairy Godmother, please make Windows leggo of the goddam file!) Can't vouch for it, haven't needed it...yet.

[redwudz]

Thanks to guns1inger for Unlocker.

I had about 80Gb of mixed Jpeg and video files to sort and edit and it saved me dozens of times when explorer couldn't read the file or let me delete it. Makes me wonder if it's causing any damage to the OS when using it, but so far, I've seen no downside.