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

1000faces · May 3, 2012

Hi Forums,

I am getting this error all the time with Windows 7. I open a text file I want to
edit, then go to save my changes and I get this error:

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

I have full admin rights, running Win7 Ultimate x64 SP1. From a bit of research I have seen where many others have been experiencing this problem or something similar too. The only "fix" (that doesn't work all the time) is to close explorer.exe and then restart it to "release the handle"? Anyway, this is not acceptable for to money and time I spent upgrading/configuring this new OS from XP where I never had this problem and seriously cuts down my productivity.

Is there a fix for this? Has Microsoft even acknowledged this as a bug yet? I can duplicate this scenario the second or third time I try to edit/save/delete a text file and I know that explorer.exe is the problem or a big part of it in any case. I don't want to go back to XP x64 but having to deal with this headache 10-20 times a day is just too much to ask.

Thanks!

writhziden · May 4, 2012

Have you checked to see if another application or service is causing this behavior? http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ation-conflicts-performing-clean-startup.html

Kari · May 4, 2012

Seems bad coding for me.

It is only natural and logical that you can't edit a file that is currently used by system or a process, so right address for complaint's is the coder for that application or process that keeps your file open even when it is no longer needed.

1000faces · May 4, 2012

Nothing else is running the text file but notepad. And I used unlocker to check the handles. It's explorer.exe that locks it.

Found this in MS forums: The action can't be completed because the file is open in Windows - Microsoft Answers

Seems to be an issue long standing and a bug inherent with Windows 7.

There has been no "official" statement from MS acknowledging this bug hence a patch or fix release is unlikely. Some users in the thread above have offered "fixes" but they are way too time consuming and inefficient in regards to workflow productivity. This shouldn't be an issue one has to deal with when purchasing a new OS that's supposed to be a pinnacle achievement in technology in the first place. How could MS leave such a glaring bug with their poster-child OS? Total bs. Might just have to dual boot into XP when I'm scripting from now on.

Dwarf · May 4, 2012

Does it happen with any text file you want to edit, or just this one in particular?

1000faces · May 4, 2012

It occurs with any file I try to edit with notepad or notepad++.

carwiz · May 4, 2012

What real time AV are you using. Perhaps it's locking on read and write or script checking. Or you have two running and they're butting heads.

writhziden · May 4, 2012

1000faces said:
It occurs with any file I try to edit with notepad or notepad++.

That is abnormal behavior. Have you tried the clean startup to see if another application or service is conflicting with explorer.exe and causing it to access files?

Also, what antivirus software do you use? Some of the more aggressive antivirus software will scan files when they are accessed, and it may show up as an explorer.exe access when it is actually the antivirus software.

Edit: carwiz: Great minds think alike...

Dwarf · May 4, 2012

Does it happen if you create a simple text file, close it, and then try to edit it again? As stated above, this is abnormal behaviour. With some programs, it is understandable if all associated files aren't properly released when the program is closed (although this would be an issue for the program manufacturer to address). It could be your AV locking the file for some reason or other, but again this is not normal. I certainly haven't come across it.

See if this picks anything up: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/139810-sfc-scannow-run-command-prompt-boot.html

carwiz · May 4, 2012

writhziden said:
1000faces said:

It occurs with any file I try to edit with notepad or notepad++.

Click to expand...

That is abnormal behavior. Have you tried the clean startup to see if another application or service is conflicting with explorer.exe and causing it to access files?

Also, what antivirus software do you use? Some of the more aggressive antivirus software will scan files when they are accessed, and it may show up as an explorer.exe access when it is actually the antivirus software.

Edit: carwiz: Great minds think alike...

Mike - Hehehe.... Mine was just a shot in the dark. I know it's not Windows or Notepad--They just do what they're told. I'm an edit fool and never run into this.

Ken

1000faces · May 4, 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 · May 4, 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 · May 4, 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 · May 4, 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 · May 4, 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 · May 4, 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 · May 4, 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 · May 4, 2012

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

1000faces · May 4, 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 · May 4, 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

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