Solved Can't delete file. says that it is open in another program.

[aaronmontoya]

I downloaded a file a while back that i couldn't get to work properly. after much trouble shooting I finally gave up and decided to delete the file. Low and behold i can't delete the file. all i get is the error message: "the action can't be completed because the folder or a file in it is open in another program" I checked all programs I've used with that file and none of them are using the file. i even disabled/uninstalled said programs with no luck. I even tried booting into safe mode but i still get the same response. Does anyone have any ideas on how i can get rid of this file.

 

[whs]

Try this: http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/fileassassin

 

[Brink]

Hello Aaron,

You might see if you may be able to delete the file using the free program Unlocker.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[aaronmontoya]

Brink & Whs:

Thank you for responding. I tried both of your guys ideas and they both come back with a similar response of "the file could not be deleted" I tried straight deleting the file again and the message has changed to "the action can not be completed because the file is open in system" any more ideas?

 

[Dwarf]

Hi Aaron,

What is the name of this file?

 

[boohbah]

if it was from a torrent ,check it is not in the list of torrents in your torrent client, if it is, remove it then try delete.

 

[aaronmontoya]

dwarf: the name is rld-spsv.iso

boohbah: it was from a torrent and I have removed it from the list and even uninstalled the program for good measure.

 

[Brink]

Aaron,

You might see if you may be able to delete the file in a command prompt at boot since it will be outside the OS and not in use.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/55728-file-delete-command-prompt.html

 

[whs]

dwarf: the name is rld-spsv.iso

boohbah: it was from a torrent and I have removed it from the list and even uninstalled the program for good measure.

Question is how you uninstalled the program. If you used the normal indows uninstaller, you probably still have a lot of files and reg entries that keep a handle on the file.

You might consider reinstalling it and the uninstll with Revo - but make sure you use the "advanced option" and delete all reg entries and files in passes 2 and 3.

 

[Corazon]

Since the file is an .iso, check to make sure you don't have it mounted as a virtual drive somewhere...

 

[aaronmontoya]

thank you very much all of you. I was finally able to get rid of the file by using the command prompt at boot. thanks again.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Aaron. I'm glad that we were able to help.

 

[IBB]

Go to this pc, and eject the .iso file. than delete the file

 

[bern1]

The No Command Prompt At Boot Method:

I too have had this issue and I've spent hours trying to solve it to no avail....until today. Opening the Folder Options box and unticking the boxes next to "Show preview handlers in preview pane" and " Launch folder windows in a separate process" DID NOT solve the issue for me. Here however, is what did solve the issue for me:



1) In File Explorer click on the "View" tab and enable "Item Check Boxes", by placing a check mark in the item box next to it (yeah....uh, over there on the right side towards the top....you got it.). From now on, whenever you highlight a file, you will see an empty check box next to it.



2) To delete the file (or folder...whatever) simply click on the file to be deleted and put a check mark in the empty box next to it.



3) Now either select "Delete" from the right click menu (right mouse button) or from the "Home" tab in File Explorer.



Hope this helps.

 

[skoville]

I worked it backwards. Deleting the inner folders 1st. Then when the folder was empty, it deleted just fine.