Go into safe mode to delete sometimes?

[leif]

Just checking with you all I'm doing the right thing. Sometimes my W7 PC won't delete something. It will say preparing to delete but will stay stuck like this, or it will say file in use when I know it's not. In this case I start windows in safe mode my hitting F8 during boot an am then able to delete the movie or file fine.

 

[Shootist]

First I would try just restarting normally and see if just after the OS loads whether you can or can't delete that file. If you can't I personally would find out why you can't.
Something is locking it up.

Otherwise if you KNOW it is OK to delete then doing it in safe mode is OK.

 

[Ztruker]

You could also install Unlocker - Download Unlocker 1.9.1 - FileHippo.com
then when a file is locked or not deletable it will popup and ask you what you want to do with it. Sometimes it can free up the file so you can delete it, otherwise you can schedule it to be deleted on the next boot. Saves you having to boot to Safe mode then back to normal mode.