How to 'release', or 'unlock' folders and files?

[tkmops]

How to 'release', or 'unlock' folders and files?

Just recently, about 60% of the time, I am unable to move and/or rename folders, I'm getting the following error msg:'The action can't be completed because the folder or a file in it is open in another program. Close the folder or file and try again'.

1) I've closed/open Windows Explorer...same error.

2) I've closed all open programs, except for Windows Explorer...same error.

3) I've rebooted...same error.

I haven't installed any new programs. I've checked my running programs in Task Manager, and found nothing that would indicate that my folders or files are open in another program.

Is there a way of finding out if there are any program(s) being used on certain folders/files?
And, how to 'release', or 'unlock those folders and files?

Win7, 64bit.

Thanks!

 

[Snick]

Hi tkmops,

How to Grant Permissions in Windows 7

1. Locate the file or folder in which you want to take ownership in Windows Explorer.
2. Right click on file or folder and select Properties from the Menu
3. Click on the Security tab, then click the Edit button. Click OK to confirm UAC elevation request if needed.
4. Select user/group from permission windows or click add to add other user or group (you may need to do this for multiple users - ex: administrator and your own user account).
5. Now under the Permission section check the rights which you want for the user i.e check "Full Control" under the "Allow" column to assign full access rights control permissions to the user.
6. Click OK for changes to take effect, and click OK again to exit from the Properties window.

 

[tkmops]

Snick, tried that, doesn't work

 

[Snick]

filesystems - Find out which process is locking a file or folder
A couple of options:
Microsoft/SysInternals Process Explorer - Go to Find > Find Handle or DLL. In the "Handle or DLL substring:" text box, type the path to the file (e.g. "C:\path\to\file.txt") and click "Search". All processes which have an open handle to that file should be listed.
WhoLockMe - Explorer extension which adds a right-click menu option

 

[Alejandro85]

You can use Process Explorer for that.
Download, run it, and in the find menu type the name of the file in question. It'll return a list of processes having that file opened. You could even force close them.

Hi tkmops,

How to Grant Permissions in Windows 7

1. Locate the file or folder in which you want to take ownership in Windows Explorer.
2. Right click on file or folder and select Properties from the Menu
3. Click on the Security tab, then click the Edit button. Click OK to confirm UAC elevation request if needed.
4. Select user/group from permission windows or click add to add other user or group (you may need to do this for multiple users - ex: administrator and your own user account).
5. Now under the Permission section check the rights which you want for the user i.e check "Full Control" under the "Allow" column to assign full access rights control permissions to the user.
6. Click OK for changes to take effect, and click OK again to exit from the Properties window.

That's the procedure to give permissions to a file/folder (which more often than not is a bad idea).
The OP is asking about files in use, a totally unrelated thing.

 

[tkmops]

OK, thanks. Downloaded 'Process Explorer', ran it, and entered the file path into the 'Find' box, it returned two entries..both explorer.exe, PID 3268. But there's only one explorer.exe in the Process tree.

 

[Snick]

Alejandro85, I agree with your response, do you have a definitive resolve to OP issue?

 

[Alejandro85]

If you see the same process twice, it means Explorer opened the very same file twice, that doesn't changes anything. The important bit is that you now know that its Windows Explorer that's keeping your file opened. Why does it that way and why does it keep it open..... I have no idea

You could kill the process or within Process Explorer close both handles to the file to free it.

 

[Snick]

Alejandro85 thanks for the timely response!