Cannot unlock a folder on External HD

mitchell65

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One of the folders on my external hard drive is locked. I have been unable to unlock it. I get the message "Cannot unlock, some pocsses are still lockig it. The process seems to be "wmpnetwk.exe" I don't use WMP so will happily uninstall it if necessary but am a bit lost. Any help appreciated! :o
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
OS
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3770 CPU @ 3.40GHz
Motherboard
ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. P8H77-M
Memory
8.00 GB
Graphics Card(s)
Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000
Sound Card
On Board
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell 24"
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080
Hard Drives
(1) INTEL SSDSC2CT180A3 ATA Device (2) ST500DM002-1BD142 ATA Device (3) WDC WD3200AAKS-75L9A0 ATA Device (4) Generic- Compact Flash USB Device (5) Generic- MS/MS-Pro USB Device (6) Generic- SD/MMC USB Device (7) Generic- SM/xD-Picture USB
PSU
500w Corsair
Case
Cooler Master
Cooling
3 Fans
Keyboard
Logitech MK300
Mouse
Logitech WOM
Internet Speed
75Mb
Antivirus
Norton 360
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Firefox, Opera, IE
I assume you have already tried disconnecting/reconnecting the external drive as well as rebooting?

I see that process running on my system but have not encountered the issue you are describing. What leads you to believe that is what's blocking you?

Instead of deleting wmp, click on Start, then type "Administrative Tools" then select Services. From there you can find "Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service". Right-click on it and then you can click on Stop to stop for this session or you can go into Properties and disable it to prevent it from running in the future.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Home Built desktop, Dell G15 5511 Gaming laptop,MS Surface Pro 7 tablet
OS
W10 Pro desktop, W11 laptop, W11 Pro tablet (all 64-bit)
CPU
3.7Ghz 8700K i7, i7-11800H, i7-1065G7
Motherboard
ASUS TUF Z370-Pro Gaming in desktop
Memory
16G desktop, 16G laptop, 4G tablet
Graphics Card(s)
AMD Radeon RX580, RTX 3060, Intel Iris Plus
Sound Card
High Definition Audio (Built-in to mobo)
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung U32J59 32" (2x), 15.6", 12"
Screen Resolution
3840x2160, 3840x2160, 1920x1080, 2160x1440
Hard Drives
500G SSD for OS; 2T, 10T & 15T HDDs for Data on Desktop, 1TB SSD laptop, 128G SSD tablet.
PSU
Corsair CX 750M
Case
Antec 100
Cooling
CM 212+
Keyboard
IBM Model M - used continuously since 1986
Mouse
Microsoft Pro IntelliMouse
Internet Speed
400M down 8M up
Antivirus
Windows Defender
Browser
FireFox
Other Info
Built my first computer (8Mhz 8088cpu, 640K RAM, 20MB HDD, 2 360K floppy drives) in 1985 and have been building them for myself, relatives and friends ever since.
  • Try taking ownership of the folders and then delte them
  • Try using some programs like, Unlocker or File Assissin.
  • Try deleting them in safe mode with Admin account if the drive is detectable.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Built
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E7500
Motherboard
DG41RQ
Memory
2.00 GB
Graphics Card(s)
Intel(R) G41 Express Chipset
Sound Card
Realtek
Monitor(s) Displays
Acer 20" Wide LCD
Screen Resolution
1600x900
Hard Drives
Seagate 500 GB Internal
Keyboard
Microsoft Cordless
Mouse
Microsoft Cordless
  • Try taking ownership of the folders and then delte them
  • Try using some programs like, Unlocker or File Assissin.
  • Try deleting them in safe mode with Admin account if the drive is detectable.
Thank you for your reply but I do not want to delete the folder and it was Unlocker that gave me the error message. Safemode returns the same result as normal mode.
Still the problem is now resolved but thank you anyway!
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
OS
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3770 CPU @ 3.40GHz
Motherboard
ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. P8H77-M
Memory
8.00 GB
Graphics Card(s)
Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000
Sound Card
On Board
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell 24"
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080
Hard Drives
(1) INTEL SSDSC2CT180A3 ATA Device (2) ST500DM002-1BD142 ATA Device (3) WDC WD3200AAKS-75L9A0 ATA Device (4) Generic- Compact Flash USB Device (5) Generic- MS/MS-Pro USB Device (6) Generic- SD/MMC USB Device (7) Generic- SM/xD-Picture USB
PSU
500w Corsair
Case
Cooler Master
Cooling
3 Fans
Keyboard
Logitech MK300
Mouse
Logitech WOM
Internet Speed
75Mb
Antivirus
Norton 360
Browser
Firefox, Opera, IE

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Home Built desktop, Dell G15 5511 Gaming laptop,MS Surface Pro 7 tablet
OS
W10 Pro desktop, W11 laptop, W11 Pro tablet (all 64-bit)
CPU
3.7Ghz 8700K i7, i7-11800H, i7-1065G7
Motherboard
ASUS TUF Z370-Pro Gaming in desktop
Memory
16G desktop, 16G laptop, 4G tablet
Graphics Card(s)
AMD Radeon RX580, RTX 3060, Intel Iris Plus
Sound Card
High Definition Audio (Built-in to mobo)
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung U32J59 32" (2x), 15.6", 12"
Screen Resolution
3840x2160, 3840x2160, 1920x1080, 2160x1440
Hard Drives
500G SSD for OS; 2T, 10T & 15T HDDs for Data on Desktop, 1TB SSD laptop, 128G SSD tablet.
PSU
Corsair CX 750M
Case
Antec 100
Cooling
CM 212+
Keyboard
IBM Model M - used continuously since 1986
Mouse
Microsoft Pro IntelliMouse
Internet Speed
400M down 8M up
Antivirus
Windows Defender
Browser
FireFox
Other Info
Built my first computer (8Mhz 8088cpu, 640K RAM, 20MB HDD, 2 360K floppy drives) in 1985 and have been building them for myself, relatives and friends ever since.
... Still the problem is now resolved but thank you anyway!
So what was the solution?
Sorry about this. I am having problems with my internet connections. I posted a reply to your post and then did the visitor message . The message was OK but the actual post got lost as my connection failed. Pain in the neck really but my ISP is sorting it, I hope!
I had done all you suggested but then disconnected the HD plugged it into my XP machine, unlocked the folder. Plugged it back into the Win 7 PC and it worked. Didn't really make sense to me but as it worked I put it down to one of lifes mysteries! That's my way of saying I've no idea how it happened :)
THanks anyway!
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
OS
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3770 CPU @ 3.40GHz
Motherboard
ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. P8H77-M
Memory
8.00 GB
Graphics Card(s)
Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000
Sound Card
On Board
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell 24"
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080
Hard Drives
(1) INTEL SSDSC2CT180A3 ATA Device (2) ST500DM002-1BD142 ATA Device (3) WDC WD3200AAKS-75L9A0 ATA Device (4) Generic- Compact Flash USB Device (5) Generic- MS/MS-Pro USB Device (6) Generic- SD/MMC USB Device (7) Generic- SM/xD-Picture USB
PSU
500w Corsair
Case
Cooler Master
Cooling
3 Fans
Keyboard
Logitech MK300
Mouse
Logitech WOM
Internet Speed
75Mb
Antivirus
Norton 360
Browser
Firefox, Opera, IE
Glad that your issue resolved. :thumbsup:
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Built
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E7500
Motherboard
DG41RQ
Memory
2.00 GB
Graphics Card(s)
Intel(R) G41 Express Chipset
Sound Card
Realtek
Monitor(s) Displays
Acer 20" Wide LCD
Screen Resolution
1600x900
Hard Drives
Seagate 500 GB Internal
Keyboard
Microsoft Cordless
Mouse
Microsoft Cordless
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