Random "access is denied" problem

For the last couple of months, I have been getting random "access is denied" on all types of files. This usually happens when I'm trying to modify, rename, or delete a file, like a .txt file or something else.

When I get the "access is denied" error message, I usually have to wait a couple of seconds or more before it goes away. Everything then works again and I can modify my file as normal.

At first, I ignored it. But, now, it's really getting on my nerves, as this has never happened before so frequently.

Since it started only a couple of months ago, I suspect it has something to with my operating system.
Perhaps it's related to a Microsoft security update. I don't know.
And my hard drive is certainly not defective or dying. That is not the issue.

I have disabled "Windows Defender", just in case it's working in the background.
I have no other "real-time" anti-virus software installed.

My best guess is that it's Windows explorer.exe that is accessing my files while I'm looking at them. But, I don't know how to tell it to leave my files alone.

Any suggestions?

OS: Windows 7 Pro SP1, 64-bit

My computer is clean of viruses. Just wondering if someone else has experienced the same problem on Windows 7, 64-bit.

This is what I do on a daily basis:

1. Open up Windows Explorer. Browse to a directory.
2. Open up MS Notepad.
3. Write something and save it to a .txt file.
4. Save the .txt file.
5. Write some more text.
6. Save the .txt file again.
7. Sometimes get random "access is denied" when trying to write to file. .Txt file will not save.

I am logged in as administrator. It doesn't matter if I run Notepad "as administrator" either.
The file I'm working on frequently gets locked down (by another process?), and I can't save it.

Sometimes I have to write to a completely new file, because the lock won't go away.
Very annoying and very unusual.

Hard drive is Western Digital WD1002FAEX1TB, 1TB internal SATA hard drive.

samurle said:

...The file I'm working on frequently gets locked down (by another process?), and I can't save it....

Unlocker might be able to tell you what app or apps are locking the txt file.... if you can use Unlocker quick enough - before the problem goes away on its own.

Just watch out for the junk that Unlocker offers to install:
Impossible to delete leftover folders

Once Unlocker is installed...
...wait for the issue to happen
...quickly right click on the file from within Windows Explorer
...select Unlocker from the context menu
...deal with the UAC

If Unlocker tells you "No Locking handles found", then maybe you missed the event.

If need be, Process Monitor can be used to find out what is happening. Process Monitor can be filtered to only show entries pertaining to the one text file involved in the test.


It would help us to help you if you would complete your system specs - including any security related software (antivirus, anti-exploit apps and the like).

Thanks, I do use Unlocker, and it is indeed Window's explorer.exe that's locking down all my files.

Frankly, I think this problem is somewhow related to Windows 7's no-refresh folder fiasco.
That is one of my major annoyances as well. Yet another problem with no solutions, thanks to Microsoft.

The odd thing is: this file locking by explorer does not happen to everyone. Lucky you

I realize that your on-demand virus scanners indicate no infections, but it sure sounds like something is making explorer behave abnormally. You might want to try some offline scanners: https://www.raymond.cc/blog/13-antiv...t-rescue-disk/