Win XP won't let me del my .avis ...

[pioneer&svcd]

I can't delete any of .avi files. Win XP gives an error msg that some program is usign the file. I haven't got any progs running. Can someone help me, pls ?

[NeWcS]

Try re-booting your system, if that doesnt work you could always boot into 'safe mode' and did it that way.

Just re-boot though, it should work!!!

[Greg12]

i had this one n i had to go into DOS n go into the folder, then type del *.*

note that *.* deletes everything so move neything u wanna keep

[jeex]

this is increasingly occuring to me more often.. i unchecked everything in its properties, moved it, closed programs, and it eventually let me delete it.. it seems like windows is holding on to it somehow becuase it says that its in use by an application or something.. mofo'ing windows xp

[homerpez]

It's because of the "Preview" feature in explorer...

When you click once on a file, it tries to bring up a frame of it as a preview of what it is. On things like .jpg or documents, it comes up very quickly. On video files, it takes a long time (sometimes up to 30 seconds) to scan the file for a frame to display.

Eventually, explorer finds a frame and shows it, and then it's not acessing it anymore... and finally you can delete!

I posted this reason when someone else had this problem, and nobody believed me... but it's true!

[jeex]

tell us how to delete it oh wise one (i'm not making fun of you, i really want to know, but am too lazy to figure it out on me own)

[homerpez]

The DELETE KEY.

[jeex]

ahaha. you have snuck one past the grasshoppa.. to properly rephrase it... how do i disable the preview feature?

[nsdn]

I have that problem as well....tho i did discover that u can delete it from safe DOS mode....won't delete in normal safe mode.....pain in the friggin arse......

I assume homer, that what you mean is let the file sit highlighted until explorer has finshed with it...then delete it....I will give that a go tonight...because we all seem to take advantage of our quick machines and are very impatient.....also it seems to take a very long time to decide thatthe file is in use..........anyway I will give it a burl...

BTW i usually use explore in view details by list mode.....i am not sure if it previews in that mode or not....

This pissed me off so much I looked through the microsoft knowledge base a month or so ago, at least then there was nothing there about it...but since other people are seeing it i expect there will be a note soon.....(just checked there still isn't...did search for delete files...and delete files in use)

this is the only thing in XP i have found that REALLY pisses me off...lol

[homerpez]

ahaha. you have snuck one past the grasshoppa.. to properly rephrase it... how do i disable the preview feature?

...sadly, I don't know of a way... maybe a registry hack? I've always had to just work around it (read: wait for it)

Don't you just love Windows "features" ?

[nsdn]

YES A SOLUTION...well its easier than the other way

make a notepad file with EXACTLY the same file name including the extention. Copy that file into the folder where the avi file is that u want to delete.....when it asks if u want to replace the file..click yes...then delete the notepad file......hope this helps grow back some hair..hehe