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[Peter]

I have a couple of short video clips that I either want to delete, move or rename but whenever I try I get a a messsage telling me 'the file is being used by another person or programme, neither is the case.

Can anyone tell me in simple terms what is going on, or what am I doing wrong maybe?

One video clip was made on a mobile phone, the other on my camera, a Lumix DMC FZ30.

Peter

[tuftedduck]

Hello Peter..

Am I right in saying that these are .avi files

The "other person or programme" is probably your OS.

The problem is a lingering defect in the explorer.exe included in
Windows XP. It won't release a handle to your file. Typically you have
it showing details of the file so it has to read the file. This happens
more often with .avi files where Explorer attempts to show you a preview
picture of the video. Since explorer.exe is used for the desktop GUI,
you're stuck with it hanging onto the file until you kill that instance
of explorer.exe, as follows:

- Close all your applications (to ensure a good close of any files they
have open).
- Open Task Manager (right-click on the taskbar to select Task Manger
or get to it via Ctrl+Alt+Del.).... Leave Task Manager open.

- Kill any and all instances of explorer.exe. The desktop disappears.
 
- Use Task Manager's File -> New Task menu to run "explorer.exe". The
desktop reappears.
- Close Task Manager.
- Delete the file



If you are worried about trying that, although it should be no problem, try an ordinary delete in safe mode.

[oldfogy]

I can't explain why that happens, "But, you are not alone" a lot of people have suffered from that scenario from time-to-time.

One of the ways that has worked for most people is to:

1. Create a new folder.
2. "Copy" all or any files from the offending folder that you want to keep to the new folder.
3. Delete the offending folder, (Note, delete the actual folder, not just the file)

Hopefully you should now have complete control again of all of those files.

Warning - while you were typing a new reply has been posted. You may wish to review your post.

[kitz]

Or alternatively a useful little tool that I use - Unlocker

How often have you tried to delete or rename a file or folder and got
"Cannot delete xxx: It is being used by another person or program." ?

Unlocker is a tool which will help you overcoming this scandalous Windows
bug.

Free to Download from  http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/#download

[Peter]

  I think I'll wait until one of my sons can hold my hand on this, ( I held theirs often enough! )

Many thanks everyone for the advice, at  least now I know it's not me wot broke it!

Peter

[exo]

May be able to delete them from safe mode.