I have a really strange problem with movie files

[Jimbo1]

Hi

When I try to change the name of a movie file, Widows 7 won't let me. Says file is open in explorer. This doesn't happen with every movie file - however. The file plays okay though. Even rebooting does not make any difference.

This problem only occurs with movie files. Even if I unlock the file, rename it close explorer - Reopen with explorer - same problem.

Anyone have any advice? I would really appreciate some.

[Ai Haibara]

Have you tried waiting a moment or two, and then attempting to rename the file? When you click on a video, Windows attempts to generate thumbnail (and other data) for it, I believe, so the files appear to be 'locked' while that's happening.

It annoys me with Vista, every so often - but usually just with .mp4 videos, even though I have video thumbnails turned off. I'll attempt to move or delete an .mp4, but can't, for a moment, because Explorer's attempting to do something with it.

[jagabo]

You may have a shell extension that's trying to extract information (thumbnail, codecs, resolution, etc.) about the file for Explorer but it's not working correctly. You'll have to figure out which program it is and remove it. I know PicVideo MJPEG used to have problems. I think Panasonic DV Codec did too. You can delete the file from a CLI if you avoid navigating to the folder with Explorer first.

[Jimbo1]

Hi guys thanks for your advice.

Waiting a few minutes doesn't make any difference.

I use Media Player Classic - Home Cinema - Could that be causing the problem somehow through Explorer. Same thing happens in Speed Commander which I mainly use.

[TJohns]

Tried renaming from the command line?

[jagabo]

What codecs are used in the file?

[AlanHK]

Get Unlocker http://unlocker.emptyloop.com/

It can tell you what is locking the file, and make it release it and/or kill the offending program.