Solved Folder locked by wmpnetwk.exe

[mitchell65]

I have a folder on an external hard drive that is locked by wmpnetwk.exe. I cannot unlock it with Lock Hunter as "The processes are still locking it". I have searched for an answer and the only advice I can find is "Don't' delete wmpnetwk.exe as it is required by the OS. I now can't add any new sub folders or rename or delete existing ones. Bit of a pain as this is my main image storage folder.
Any ideas please?
I have gone down the folder permissions route and that shows full access. I keep getting an error message saying that I need the permission from John-PC/John but I am logged in as that with full admin rights!

 

[Ztruker]

See here: wmpnetwk.exe - What is wmpnetwk.exe?

You could try disabling Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service to see if that frees it up. You can leave it disabled unless you share your WMP library across the network with other computers. I have it disabled on my Win 7 Pro X64 system.

 

[mitchell65]

Thank you Rich, I have unlocked my folder now but there is still a lock showing on the icon. Problem remains though i still cannot gain access to new sub folders . I can create them but cannot rename them or ideed put anything in them. Any further thoughts?

 

[Bill2]

Since this is an external hard drive, just take ownership of the entire drive.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1911-take-ownership-shortcut.html

 

[mitchell65]

Since this is an external hard drive, just take ownership of the entire drive.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1911-take-ownership-shortcut.html

Thanks but I have already done that so that the "Take ownership"does not show now when I rt click the drive!

 

[Jacee]

See if you can unlock the files with LockHunter LockHunter is UNLOCKER Alternative that Works on Windows x64 | Raymond.CC Blog

 

[mitchell65]

Hi Jacee
I used UnlockHunter and succeeded in so far as I got the message Folder Unlocked. However when I next checked I get this:

 

[whs]

I would use the brutal method. Unplug the drive and then replug it.

 

[mitchell65]

Girded my loins and tried the "brutal" method to no avail I'm afraid!
Shall now resort to imbibing whisky and seeing what tomorrow may bring!

 

[whs]

Did you reboot before you reattached it? Try that.

 

[Jacee]

Girded my loins and tried the "brutal" method to no avail I'm afraid!
Shall now resort to imbibing whisky and seeing what tomorrow may bring!

:roflmao:

 

[Dzomlija]

Thank you Rich, I have unlocked my folder now but there is still a lock showing on the icon. Problem remains though i still cannot gain access to new sub folders . I can create them but cannot rename them or ideed put anything in them. Any further thoughts?

If I've understood you correctly, the folder of which you speak has a lock icon overlay across it, like this:


This is one of two things: Either the folder is shared for specific users only, or is not shared and is accessible only to a specifc user. I'll assume the second - the folder is not accessible to the "Users" group.

As shown in this screenshot, the "TV1" folder is accessible only to "SYSTEM", "Peter Dzomlija" (myself) and "Administrators":


To remove the lock icon, do this:
1) In the Security Tab, click "Edit":


2) Click "Add":


3) Click "Advanced":


4) Click "Find Now":


5) Select "Users COMPUTER_NAME" at the bottom of the list:


6) The Lock overlay icon should be gone:


7) Click "OK" To add "Users" to the security list.

8) Repeat steps 2-7 to optionally add other users.




This usually happens when the "File Sharing" wizard (shown below) is used to stop sharing a folder:


I've actually gotten into the habit already of adding the "Users" group to security permissions immediately after I stop sharing a folder...

 

[whs]

Thank you Rich, I have unlocked my folder now but there is still a lock showing on the icon. Problem remains though i still cannot gain access to new sub folders . I can create them but cannot rename them or ideed put anything in them. Any further thoughts?

If I've understood you correctly, the folder of which you speak has a lock icon overlay across it, like this:
View attachment 116594

This is one of two things: Either the folder is shared for specific users only, or is not shared and is accessible only to a specifc user. I'll assume the second - the folder is not accessible to the "Users" group.

As shown in this screenshot, the "TV1" folder is accessible only to "SYSTEM", "Peter Dzomlija" (myself) and "Administrators":
View attachment 116595

To remove the lock icon, do this:
1) In the Security Tab, click "Edit":
View attachment 116596

2) Click "Add":
View attachment 116597

3) Click "Advanced":
View attachment 116598

4) Click "Find Now":
View attachment 116599

5) Select "Users COMPUTER_NAME" at the bottom of the list:
View attachment 116600

6) The Lock overlay icon should be gone:
View attachment 116601

7) Click "OK" To add "Users" to the security list.

8) Repeat steps 2-7 to optionally add other users.




This usually happens when the "File Sharing" wizard (shown below) is used to stop sharing a folder:
View attachment 116602

I've actually gotten into the habit already of adding the "Users" group to security permissions immediately after I stop sharing a folder...

Nice post, but there is an Apply somwhere between steps 7 and 8 - else it does not work.

 

[Dzomlija]

Nice post, but there is an Apply somwhere between steps 7 and 8 - else it does not work.

Apply is only there if you want to save changes you have made to settings, but don't want the dialog box to close, which will happen if you click OK.

Worked fine for me by clicking OK while I was writing...

 

[mitchell65]

Thanks for all the replies. I followed the above but got this message when I tried to add Administrator:

 

[Dzomlija]

Thanks for all the replies. I followed the above but got this message when I tried to add Administrator:
View attachment 116797

Try taking ownership first then...

 

[Bill2]

Really, I think it would be easier to just copy the data on that drive back to your hdd (if it lets you copy), then format it. That way you can start on a clean slate.

 

[mitchell65]

Really, I think it would be easier to just copy the data on that drive back to your hdd (if it lets you copy), then format it. That way you can start on a clean slate.

Exactly what I was thinking myself. I think that will save me a lot of time. Will set up the transfer later as it will take some time. Thank you for the suggestion. Will report back when done. Likely to be a couple of days.

 

[mitchell65]

Just to report back. I transferred all my data from the Ext HD to my C drive. Took the opportunity to do a good clean up of rubbish too. Then I formatted the Ext HD. Then transferred the data back using the same folder names as original. All problems solved, thanks to all for your help.