The process cannot access the file because it is being used by...

1000faces · 04 May 2012

I am running no AV. My system has a clean fresh install from 2 weeks ago writing zeros to the HD. I know how to run a system without needing bloated SV software and stay safe. I haven't had a virus in 6 years. My startup is stripped of any non-core files and only executing those needed for the OS to run. As I stated above, if I stop explorer.exe and then restart it the file is released. The link to the thread @ MS forums above makes it clear that this is a bug with Win7 from the many accounts of others having this problem at times and it being qualified by proof of concept. They need to address it. I've spent 1000's of hours scripting with XP and never had this problem.

writhziden · 04 May 2012

1000faces said:

I am running no AV. My system is a clean fresh install from 2 weeks ago writing zeros to the HD. I know how to run a system without needing bloated SV software and stay safe. I haven't had a virus in 6 years. My startup is stripped of any non-core files and only those needed for the OS to run. As I stated above, if I stop explorer.exe and then restart it the file is released. The link to the thread @ MS forums above makes it clear that this is a bug with Win7 from the many accounts of others having this problem at times and it being qualified by proof of concept. They need to address it. I've spent 1000's of hours scripting with XP and never had this problem.

You never answered what types of files you are accessing ~~or if a clean startup resolves the problem~~...

1000faces · 04 May 2012

I write/dev default & custom mp map scripts for online games. This occurs with any .txt, .cfg, .scr, .urm, .rtf etc file I try to edit with notpad, notepad++, PSPad etc. The particular one shown in the SS posted is a map script & has to be saved to a .pk3 and then loaded into the program's root and executed before it can run. Nothing else is running the file. No apps or unusual processes running in taskmngr either.

Dwarf · 04 May 2012

You might well have answered your own question here. You state that you run no AV and that you feel safe not doing so. That may well be the case, and it is your prerogative whether you choose to run one or not. However, I and many others don't recommend this practice and instead recommend the use of a good AV, such as Avast! (or any other equivalent program). One of the main symptoms of malware infection is abnormal program behaviour, which you are experiencing. I'm going to ask one of our Malware experts to look at this. She will probably ask you to download and run some programs, please do what she requests and follow her instructions carefully.

1000faces · 04 May 2012

Ah Ha! The way I was testing if this happens with different file extensions was starting out with the original .scr file and if it wouldn't save without error I would rename it to .txt, .cfg, .urm, .rtf etc. But...starting from a freshly created .txt, I can edit that file and/or rename it to anything and it will behave correctly until I renamed it to .scr ..then the problem starts again. I can renamed that same file to .txt, .cfg, .urm, .rtf etc and the problem will stand. So it's explorer.exe holding onto the .scr extension right? Is there a way to remove that association?

carwiz · 04 May 2012

Since Explorer.exe is the primary user interface, just thinking of ways the file may be open by Explorer other than through browsing.

Another shot in the dark: Do you read or write the file to/from the desktop or start from a shortcut, start menu or the task bar with a common file name? If so, explorer.exe may retain control of the file.

Are you opening NotePad/++ from within another program as an "external editor"?

Edit: Well, I guess you found it while I was sitting here thinking how the file could be locked by Explorer.

1000faces · 04 May 2012

Btw..I do bi-weekly scans with Malwarebytes, Spybot, Hijackthis & Norton but they are totally disabled otherwise because they hog-up way too much system resources put too much of a strangle hold on everything you do.. especially Norton & Kaspersky (but they are thorough). Avast! is not as bad and neither is AVG but I don't need any of them.I've been a systems tech and been doing this for 10 years. My philosophy is that if you get a virus or malware..well..you probably deserve it unless you're a complete novice user. I recommend AV to all my associates/family who reside in this class

carwiz · 04 May 2012

SCR is a screen saver file. ??? Could be why explorer grabs it.

1000faces · 04 May 2012

No not in the sense that you might think. It's an extension the Quake3 engine uses to execute scripts. But in the Windows environment yes so I think that has something to do with it.
XP never grabbed on to it before like this though.

karlsnooks · 04 May 2012

Get rid of all of that collection of av, spyware, firewall software.

The fact that you only run a check on you own schedule then you are predestined to problems.

Get rid of all of that stuff.

Use MSE, Microsoft Security Essential. Link is in my signature.
MSE is the one, the only av that I use, that I recommend, that I install. You need nothing more and MSE is non-interfering and exceptionally maintained and updated by Microsoft. This is the same AV used by MS in enterprise system where the customer pays for this protection. You get it free!

Please read this:
Understanding Microsoft Anti-Malware Software 2012 ~ Security Garden