Explorer locking files!
September 24th, 2013
what do you mean by locking files?
i’m pretty sure none of files have been ever locked. im using windows 7.
maybe you turned on encryption?
It’s usually Windows Explorer that locks files, does it on most flavours of Windows.
You can either use Unlocker, or open task manager and shut down explorer.exe and then restart it.
Ya I’m using Lock Hunter. It works fine. I have tried shutting down explorer and restarting. I have tried taking ownership in DOS. I even tried to delete in Safe Mode to no effect! I know I can delete them now but i’d like for the issue not to happen which is the reason for this post. I want prevention not cure!
shaneo239 replied: Ya I'm using Lock Hunter. It works fine. I have tried shutting down explorer and restarting. I have tried taking ownership in DOS. I even tried to delete in Safe Mode to no effect! I know I can delete them now but i'd like for the issue not to happen which is the reason for this post. I want prevention not cure!
It’s Windows…
I have never found a way to prevent it.
I guess you could try an alternative to Explorer, such as Free Commander, A43, Cubic explorer, Gyula’s Navigator etc
the Meerkat replied: shaneo239 replied: Ya I'm using Lock Hunter. It works fine. I have tried shutting down explorer and restarting. I have tried taking ownership in DOS. I even tried to delete in Safe Mode to no effect! I know I can delete them now but i'd like for the issue not to happen which is the reason for this post. I want prevention not cure!
It's Windows...
I have never found a way to prevent it.
I guess you could try an alternative to Explorer, such as Free Commander, A43, Cubic explorer, Gyula’s Navigator etc
lol.
Stupid windows. Thanks for the help Meerkat. I suppose its good to know everyone is having the same issue at least
shaneo239 replied:
lol.
Stupid windows. Thanks for the help Meerkat. I suppose its good to know everyone is having the same issue at least
Most people don’t notice it in general everyday use, but when you are shifting files a lot (eg warez) then it does stand out
I have been using Unlocker for years
I never had an issue with XP. And I moved around alot of files but maybe I was just lucky with that (or have blackout the issues)
Make sure you’re logged in as the Administrator.
Alternatively, you could try running Explorer with elevated privileges by going to C:\Windows and then right clicking “explorer.exe” and selecting “Run As Administrator”, sometimes this needs to be used in order to perform certain actions (For example; editing the Windows Host files requires you to do this for notepad.exe before you are allowed to edit the hosts file, regardless of your current user restrictions).
It sounds like it’s Windows being silly, but may I ask what you are trying to remove exactly?
The usual time I come across it is when I try to remove external hard drives, but Windows Safely Remove Hardware (%windir%\system32\RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL hotplug.dll) can’t do anything as the file says it’s still in use by Explorer.
The way I get around that is to use a seperate program called USB Safely Remove, which is pretty good at doing forced stops.
http://safelyremove.com/
I do get it a lot more on XP Pro than Win 7, but that’s probably as I use it as my primary OS.
It happens randomly it seems to MKV files I download. Not all of them but like 1 every 20 or so. I have tried going into DOS and taking ownership but even that didnt work. And as mentioned earlier couldnt delete these files in Safe mode as well. Needed 3rd party program.
the Meerkat replied: The usual time I come across it is when I try to remove external hard drives, but Windows Safely Remove Hardware (%windir%\system32\RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL hotplug.dll) can't do anything as the file says it's still in use by Explorer.
The way I get around that is to use a seperate program called USB Safely Remove, which is pretty good at doing forced stops.
http://safelyremove.com/
I do get it a lot more on XP Pro than Win 7, but that's probably as I use it as my primary OS.
Thanks for the link Meerkat, everyone loves freeware.
Have you heard of Flux?
Wise-San replied: the Meerkat replied: The usual time I come across it is when I try to remove external hard drives, but Windows Safely Remove Hardware (%windir%\system32\RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL hotplug.dll) can't do anything as the file says it's still in use by Explorer.
The way I get around that is to use a seperate program called USB Safely Remove, which is pretty good at doing forced stops.
http://safelyremove.com/
I do get it a lot more on XP Pro than Win 7, but that's probably as I use it as my primary OS.
Thanks for the link Meerkat, everyone loves freeware.
Have you heard of Flux?
I use a cracked version, not the free trial (that only lasts 30 days).
Do you mean this app ? I have heard of this, but never used it
http://stereopsis.com/flux/
the Meerkat replied: Wise-San replied: the Meerkat replied: The usual time I come across it is when I try to remove external hard drives, but Windows Safely Remove Hardware (%windir%\system32\RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL hotplug.dll) can't do anything as the file says it's still in use by Explorer.
The way I get around that is to use a seperate program called USB Safely Remove, which is pretty good at doing forced stops.
http://safelyremove.com/
I do get it a lot more on XP Pro than Win 7, but that's probably as I use it as my primary OS.
Thanks for the link Meerkat, everyone loves freeware.
Have you heard of Flux?
I use a cracked version, not the free trial (that only lasts 30 days).
Do you mean this app ? I have heard of this, but never used it
http://stereopsis.com/flux/
Yeah, I uninstalled it as soon as I saw the “evaluation version” watermark, there are plenty of free alternatives.
Flux is an eyecare program that adjusts the hue and saturation depending on the time of day. If you’re using a computer for extended periods of time, it eases the eye strain significantly.
Wise-San replied: Flux is an eyecare program that adjusts the hue and saturation depending on the time of day. If you're using a computer for extended periods of time, it eases the eye strain significantly.
Okey dokey interesting,
Not the sort of app I use anyway, it’s easy enough when you have Health & Safety regulations drummed into you at work for years, then you automatically learn to only spend about 20 mins at your pc screen at a time.
*edit – it doesn’t prevent RSI though (repetitive strain injury) on your wrists.
the Meerkat replied: Wise-San replied: Flux is an eyecare program that adjusts the hue and saturation depending on the time of day. If you're using a computer for extended periods of time, it eases the eye strain significantly.
Okey dokey interesting,
Not the sort of app I use anyway, it's easy enough when you have Health & Safety regulations drummed into you at work for years, then you automatically learn to only spend about 20 mins at your pc screen at a time.
*edit - it doesn't prevent RSI though (repetitive strain injury) on your wrists.
I don’t have any form of health and safety regulations to adhere to, I just like it.