open a file while it's being copied

garlor · 12 Feb 2014

I want to open a file at the same type it's being copied ( the "target/destiny" file not the origin one), but it is locked by windows and doesn't let to open it, is there any way to change how windows copies files?

if I download a file by ftp I can open it right away ( a movie ) and just watch it till it ends, if I copy it with windows then I have to wait until it's completely copied to be able to open and watch it, I use VLC for the viewing if that is any difference

it's not killing but bothersome, specially with movies of 4GB or more that take a few minutes to fully copy

whs · 12 Feb 2014

Yeah, that's the way it works. Streaning from the internet is different than copying inside the box. When you rip a CD, you can also listen to it whilst it is ripping.

garlor · 12 Feb 2014

I already knew that is how it works, I'm looking for a way to change how it works

whs · 12 Feb 2014

That was my point. You can't. As long as the system copies, it keeps a handle on the target file and locks it down. It only releases this handle when the copy operation has completed. If you were to play with the handle, you would mess up the copy operation.