Member Avatar for JenSenorita07

I am trying to delete a file I downloaded on Bearshare. And i don't share any files. And i am trying to delete Mr & Mrs. Smith. avi file but they say it is in use. but it is not. Can sombody help me get around the message which says it in use. plese help.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by caperjack

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Several things can make Windows report a file as "in use": a running program or background service still holding a handle, a kernel driver, NTFS metadata corruption, or a malformed/long filename that the shell can't manipulate. Many helpful suggestions already appear in the thread — 's safe‑mode idea, 's new account trick and 's ownership tip — and those often solve the problem. When they do not, the next step is to diagnose which process (or the filesystem) is locking the file rather than repeatedly attempting deletion.

A reliable diagnostic is to identify the open handle. Run Process Explorer (Sysinternals) as Administrator and use Find → "Find Handle or DLL" to search part of the filename; the owning process and PID will be shown and can be stopped or the handle closed (closing handles may destabilize an app, so stop/exit the app or service when possible). The command‑line Sysinternals tool handle.exe can perform a similar search from an elevated prompt.

If no handle is found, try removing attributes or bypassing shell issues from an elevated command prompt before using heavier measures:

attrib -s -h -r "C:\path\to\Mr & Mrs. Smith.avi"
del "C:\path\to\Mr & Mrs. Smith.avi"

Files with illegal characters, trailing spaces, or very long paths can often be deleted from a WinPE or Linux live USB environment because those tools ignore Windows file locks. If the item was deleted into another account's recycle bin (as experienced), the per‑volume hidden recycle folder can be emptied from an admin session or a rescue environment.

Because P2P downloads can be malicious, treat the file as suspicious: scan the disk with an up‑to‑date offline/rescue scanner and run chkdsk /f to repair NTFS if filesystem issues persist. Back up important data before any repair or low‑level deletion.

Recommended Answers

All 13 Replies

Member Avatar for ProjectXBOX

have you tried deleting the file in safe mode?

i know it has worked for me sometimes when i get something off Ares P2P..

Member Avatar for JenSenorita07

how do u get to safe mode?

Member Avatar for ProjectXBOX

To get into the Windows 2000 / XP Safe mode, as the computer is booting press and hold your "F8 Key" which should bring up the "Windows Advanced Options Menu" as shown below. Use your arrow keys to move to "Safe Mode" and press your Enter key. note: you'll need to do this BEFORE you see the windows logo.. i believe this is also the same if you are running Windows 95 or 98/ME as well..

Once you are in safe mode, try to delete the file, and if its sucsessful, then shut down and restart your computer, it should boot to normal mode by itself.. then you can check and see if the file is gone, if its not, you may have a virus or other problem more serious..

hope this helps!!

PXB

Member Avatar for traceg

I have the same problem and tried deleting in safe mode but still the same problem. Nortons doesn't see anything wrong with it. You can't rename, move it .... just says it's in use. Can't even view the properties.. nothing happens.

Member Avatar for traceg

I have the same problem and tried deleting in safe mode but still the same problem. Nortons doesn't see anything wrong with it. You can't rename, move it .... just says it's in use. Can't even view the properties.. nothing happens.

I just got rid of it!!!!!!

Create another user account, reboot in safemode using the new account then delete it. Wollahhh!!

I hope it works for others :lol:

Member Avatar for frenemy

Usually when a file is in use and you're using a p2p prog, some one else is trying to d/l it off of you. But yeah, rebooting into safe mode works most of the time when trying to delete a file.

Member Avatar for caperjack

just renooting windows will do it for most .inuse usually means it still in memory from when you opened it to view it ,

Member Avatar for goldielucks

I just got rid of it!!!!!!

Create another user account, reboot in safemode using the new account then delete it. Wollahhh!!

I hope it works for others :lol:

Had the same problem with Mr. and Mrs. Smith.avi, so I created a new account on XP, booted up in safe mode, and that junk-ass file still won't delete. It's evil. :twisted:

Anyone else know? I even tried deleting it thru DOS, but the damn thing still wouldn't leave.

Frustrated. :mad:

Member Avatar for gemini4

Had the same problem with Mr. and Mrs. Smith.avi, so I created a new account on XP, booted up in safe mode, and that junk-ass file still won't delete. It's evil. :twisted:

Anyone else know? I even tried deleting it thru DOS, but the damn thing still wouldn't leave.

Frustrated. :mad:

Take ownership of the file:

In safe mode login as Administrator and do the following:

1.Right click on the file and choose Properties
2.Click Security on the top
3.Click Advanced
4.Click Owner
5.Click Administrators
6.Apply all changes and try to delete the file again.

If it can't delete it please tell me the specific error that you get from this commands.

Member Avatar for goldielucks

Take ownership of the file:

In safe mode login as Administrator and do the following:

1.Right click on the file and choose Properties
2.Click Security on the top
3.Click Advanced
4.Click Owner
5.Click Administrators
6.Apply all changes and try to delete the file again.

If it can't delete it please tell me the specific error that you get from this commands.

I have very little experience with WinXP, because I'm among the fast-dying breed of Win98 fans. Thank you for your help, but I'll admit I didn't see your response before I finally deleted that piece of crap file. I deleted the FOLDER it was in, rather than right clicking on the file itself and trying to delete it that way. Seems like as soon as I approached this actual file with the mouse, it would pretend to be in use. What causes that exactly? A person with too much time on their hands or just a computer gliche?? I've seen this happen with movie files before but could never figure it out.

Thanks again ;)

Member Avatar for Boggis26

Hey everyone,

I downloaded this file from limewire, and i cant delete it, it takes a stronger hold for the longer you have it.

When i realised this file probably wasn't best to hang onto, in tried to delete it, which didn't work so i logged into 'Administrator' in safe mode, and deleted it there. Unfortunately, this went to the recycle bin, and now wont delete from there, or restore, or anything else for that matter. I cant delete it! please help! I cant find the recycle bin for 'Administrator' anywhere but in the 'Admin' user account. Is there no way to just blast the recycle bin in that account?

thanks

Boggis26 :S

Member Avatar for caperjack

I would try ccleaner ,it will remove temp file and also empty the recycle bin.
http://www.ccleaner.com/

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