Windows 7: Folder locked by wmpnetwk.exe

I have a folder on an external hard drive that is locked by wmpnetwk.exe. I cannot unlock it with Lock Hunter as "The processes are still locking it". I have searched for an answer and the only advice I can find is "Don't' delete wmpnetwk.exe as it is required by the OS. I now can't add any new sub folders or rename or delete existing ones. Bit of a pain as this is my main image storage folder.
Any ideas please?
I have gone down the folder permissions route and that shows full access. I keep getting an error message saying that I need the permission from John-PC/John but I am logged in as that with full admin rights!

See here: wmpnetwk.exe - What is wmpnetwk.exe?

You could try disabling Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service to see if that frees it up. You can leave it disabled unless you share your WMP library across the network with other computers. I have it disabled on my Win 7 Pro X64 system.

Thank you Rich, I have unlocked my folder now but there is still a lock showing on the icon. Problem remains though i still cannot gain access to new sub folders . I can create them but cannot rename them or ideed put anything in them. Any further thoughts?

Since this is an external hard drive, just take ownership of the entire drive.

Take Ownership Shortcut

Thanks but I have already done that so that the "Take ownership"does not show now when I rt click the drive!

See if you can unlock the files with LockHunter LockHunter is UNLOCKER Alternative that Works on Windows x64 | Raymond.CC Blog

Hi Jacee
I used UnlockHunter and succeeded in so far as I got the message Folder Unlocked. However when I next checked I get this:

I would use the brutal method. Unplug the drive and then replug it.

Girded my loins and tried the "brutal" method to no avail I'm afraid!
Shall now resort to imbibing whisky and seeing what tomorrow may bring!

Did you reboot before you reattached it? Try that.