Can't delete file because it's in use by System

[magnetite]

I'm trying to delete an ISO image which appears to be in use by System. When I boot into safe mode and try it, the error still comes up. I've also tried deleting it via the elevated command prompt. Changing the security permissions doesn't seem to do it.

Anyone have any ideas on how I can delete the file? It's one of those Ubuntu disc images.

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

Hi, Welcome to SF,

You could use Unlocker i will show you that process its using also to delete them

Hope this helps,
Captain

 

[magnetite]

I've tried giving myself ownership then trying it, but it didn't work, so I'm going to try that program.

 

[gaz]

ubuntu

did you "install within windows" or make a partition??

 

[magnetite]

Nope. Just trying to delete the file from my C:\Users\[name]\Downloads folder to free up space. I tried using that unlocker program, but it seems that there is a Shell Extension error preventing it from showing up on the context menu when I right click on the file. I opened up ShellExView and found out about the error.

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

Nope. Just trying to delete the file from my C:\Users\[name]\Downloads folder to free up space. I tried using that unlocker program, but it seems that there is a Shell Extension error preventing it from showing up on the context menu when I right click on the file. I opened up ShellExView and found out about the error.

I guess it might be your Firewall or Antivurs .. Reboot the System in Selective startup and reinstall the Unlocker or Reboot the System in Safe Mode and try to delete it from there.

Hope this helps,
Captain

 

[magnetite]

I tried the safe mode thing and it said that the System is probably a user name. The processes being used by it were winlogon and some other one. Closing either will cause me to log off Windows. I think the only way I'm going to delete this file is to re-install Windows which has worked before, but I'm not going to worry about that just for one file. Thanks anyway though.

 

[Dwarf]

Have you tried burning the image to a CD and then cancelled the process part way through?

 

[seekermeister]

I have had problems dealing with a file that had permissions that seemed to override my own. Recheck permissions for all "users" and see if this might be so. In a couple of instances, there was permissions for "everyone" that did this. I deleted "everyone" and then my permissions took effect.

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

I tried the safe mode thing and it said that the System is probably a user name. The processes being used by it were winlogon and some other one. Closing either will cause me to log off Windows. I think the only way I'm going to delete this file is to re-install Windows which has worked before, but I'm not going to worry about that just for one file. Thanks anyway though.

Have to Mount that image some where??

 

[magnetite]

The image isn't mounted by one of those ISO mounting programs. I checked the permissions, and System, Administrators, and Magnetite (me), all have full control of the file.

I'll try the CD burning thing, but if that doesn't work I'm not going to worry about it.

Nope, I burned it to a CD, canceled halfway, then tried it again. Still said that the file is in use by system. The firewall doesn't list the file nor is the anti-virus using it.

 

[Fumbles]

Just wanted to post a solution I found when having the same problem. I went through the same steps as you, booted to safe mode, tried unlocker and lockhunter, etc.

Even without any image mounting software running, including the process list, the MagicISO program I was using had a virtual drive listed in the device manager. After disabling this drive windows finally allowed me to delete the files.

Confirmed to work on two different Win7 64 computers, Ultimate and Premium.

 

[Layback Bear]

Are you trying to delete this file from your 2 tig hhd or your ssd.

 

[trustmeee]

thaaaaaaaaaaaaank you FUMBLES

Thaaaaaaaaaaaaaank you FUMBLES
you sort it out
it was magic iso program and should disable all the drives
thank you aloooooooooooooooot

 

[KaliKronos]

Easiest fix ever...

Had the very same issue with an .ISO file...

I couldn't trash the file (I got a similar message saying it was in use by System); but somehow I was still able to change the extension to something different... then delete the file without problems. :huh:

 

[AurigaNexus]

I had a similar problem just now with a half-downloaded .iso file. I had DaemonTools Lite set up to auto-associate .iso files, and the download stopped halfway through and wouldn't resume, and I got this error anytime I tried to screw with it. After reading this thread I was able to delete the file after removing all of my virtual drives in DT.

So yeah, if you have a virtual drive manager program and you get this, try deleting or disabling your virtual drives. You can always re-enable them later after the offending piece of data is in the recycle bin where it belongs.

 

[StonerFace]

Glad this helped a couple people but going through EVERY one of those steps and still coming up dry...

Please help :c

 

[MonkeyFace82]

If you are using image mounting software, even if the program does not appear to be running (such as Daemon Tools etc.) Open the program and make sure that the file which you can't delete isn't mounted to any drives. For instance, the same thing happened to me and I could not delete an ISO until I opened Daemon Tools and clicked the unmount all drives button, which solved the issue.

(Even if your mounting software does not show any files to be mounted click the button anyway, mine did not show anything to be mounted, but the ISO was mounted nonetheless.)