Strange Problem... Can't Delete

[haubrija]

Hi everyone,

I have a strange problem... Whenever I have a video file on my computer, whether it be an mpg or an avi, after I have viewed it (or used it in some other manner such as virtual dub) I am unable to delete it off my hard drive. I get the generic Windows message that the file is in use. Now, when I go to delete it, the file is most certainly not in use. In fact, I have gone into the task manager and deleted all processes running (except for essential programs) and still cannot delete it. I was wondering if any one else has had this problem. I like to keep my hard drive clean and defragmented for capture so this problem really irks me. Any suggestions would be great.

I'm running WinXP Pro, P4 1.4ghz, 256 ram, 40 gig Western Digital Hard Drive. I thought it may be a windows problem.

Thanks

[johnny quest]

Had the same problem. Here's what to do. Click start button then the run command line. Type in "command". This will take you into a DOS like screen. You'll want to change directories to where this file is saved. Do this by typing cd c:/, then cd c:/folderfileisin. Remember, if the file is in a folder that has more than 6 characters in the name, after the 6th letter you must type "~1". once you get to the folder, type "dir" and it should list the files. then type "del "filename". This should delete it. It worked for me.

[kenweir]

Okay, I stumbled onto this, and it worked for me, so give it a shot.

Close all running programs, netscape, ie, etc....
Launch a "command prompt" window.
Click on the destop, but leave the command prompt window open.
Hold down CTRL and ALT and press the DEL key to bring up the task manager.
End task on Explorer.exe. Do NOT CLOSE the task manager.
Now, go back to your command prompt and go to the directory where you have files to delete.
Delete the files.
Exit the dos prompt.
In the Task Manager, select File, New Task (Run), and type in Explorer.exe.

Voila. Deleted file and you're back up and running, as soon as you launch your programs again.

Hope it works.

Kenweir

btw, I think this is a problem that is only encountered in WinXP, because that's when I first started having it. Even a restart from power down and delete before running anything else doesn't work. Nor does safe mode. But the above trick does. Keep me posted.

[ChrisX]

I've experienced this problem before. The computer just won't allow deletion, as simple as that!

Try re-starting the computer. This works for me.

There is another way, delete the file from another computer. This may work. However, not always successful.

Not just on video files, any file, which have been recently accessed and on unshared programs not completely removed after the uninstall process is another one. It is a pain, especially on old programs no longer in use, no longer required or obsolete.

Recently, I experieced a strange one on a blank CD-RW. The CD writer program wouldn't allow me to delete an empty folder in a data CD. The folder was corrupted. It thinks the folder as read only and protected.

The only way out was to re-format the disc, this is to erase everything by formatting it again. All clean as a result.

[KingJohn]

Has the file been added to the play list ?, if so you need to remove it from the list first

http://www.microsoft.com/WINDOWSXP/pro/using/howto/multimedia/music/overview/playlists.asp