Problem with locked EXE files

[Stevvie]

I have this problem where my .exe files get locked by explorer so I canot update programs. I can sometimes delete the .exe file and usually can always use unlocker. It's the same problem these people have had http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/175447-exe-files-locking.html http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/96078-problem-locked-exe-files.html and asked in them if they solved it but was asked by karlsnooks to start a new thread rather than ask in there if they solved their problem. I have tried all the thing that were suggested in these two threads and neither seems to solve mine or their problems. If anybody knows why explorer would lock files randomly can you please tell me, thanks.

 

[pcunite]

The problem is that an open handle to the file exists. You could use a tool like Process Explorer to show you who has the open handle, or Unlocker to close the handle and delete the file in one go. On XP systems I used a tool called forcedel.exe. I don't know if it exists for Windows 7 though.

 

[Ztruker]

All programs or just some specific programs?

Does the problem occur if you update the program immediately after booting, before using any programs?

 

[karlsnooks]

Stevvie,
Could you give us an example of file that gets "locked"?

 

[Stevvie]

As stated in my first post EXPLORER locks the file and I CAN delete the file using UNLOCKER.
An example is something like this. I use Internet Download Manager to manage my downloads and this get updated on a regular basis, so i start the installer to update my program and someway through the install it returns with an error saying 'the file is open or already in use'. So I have to use UNLOCKER to delete the file, 9 times out of 10 this works. When this does not work I have to reboot into safe mode or another OS on another drive and delete the file which so far works 100%. Some updates get applied with no problem but some don't. So far I have found no pattern to what gets locked and what doesn't. Some games get locked and some don't. Things even get locked if they are NEVER run by the OS, I know this as I tried to do a manual update of Alan wake game that hadn't been run since I rebooted about 10 minutes before and the installer said that AlanWake.exe was running or locked. It seems that sometimes as soon as the file or its containing folder is opened in explorer, it get locked.

 

[karlsnooks]

Sorry for the misunderstanding.

Would you please give me the name of one program that gets "locked"?

 

[lehnerus2000]

"Blocked" File?

Check the "Properties" of a troublesome exe file.
If you have downloaded it from the Internet it may be "Blocked".

​

 

[karlsnooks]

lehnerus,
Excellent point. One of the reasons I was looking for specific examples of programs that that are giving the problem.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Thanks karlsnooks

lehnerus,
Excellent point. One of the reasons I was looking for specific examples of programs that that are giving the problem.

Thanks karlsnooks.

I've never personally had that cause a problem with exe files, but it has caused me problems with PowerShell scripts.

 

[karlsnooks]

lehnerus
what is the executionpolicy setting?
Get-executionpolicy -list

 

[lehnerus2000]

I'm not familiar with PowerShell at all.
I don't know the command keywords (or syntax) so I have to rely on other people's scripts.

I used an online tutorial to create W8DP and W8CP VHDs.
Part of the procedure used a PowerShell script to install the W8 image.

The tutorial I followed included a command to allow the script to run.
I believe that it was to set the execution policy (I'd have to look it up).
Even after I had set the policy, I still couldn't run the script, until I "Unblocked" it.

View attachment PowerShell Get-executionpolicy.txt

 

[Stevvie]

Sorry for the misunderstanding.

Would you please give me the name of one program that gets "locked"?

as stated in my second post, things like games(alanwake.exe) that are installed from CD and then I try to update are already locked by explorer.
Or another example is InternetDownloadManager (idm.exe) that gets locked. I can update in safe mode OK, I have even tried rebooting then immediately updating a game and it still gets locked. Most of the update files are in either RAR or ZIP format and once unzipped are never have the unblock button on their properties page.

 

[carwiz]

What process did you use to "install" the programs from CD? (AutoRun, Copy, Setup.exe, etc.)
Where do you "install" the programs and please explain what you mean by "I try to update"?
Do these programs show up in your Programs and Features listing? If they do, why are you deleting .EXE files?
Who's shown as the Owner of the Folder where the programs are installed? Is the Folder included in a Library?

 

[Stevvie]

What process did you use to "install" the programs from CD? (AutoRun, Copy, Setup.exe, etc.)
Where do you "install" the programs and please explain what you mean by "I try to update"?
Do these programs show up in your Programs and Features listing? If they do, why are you deleting .EXE files?
Who's shown as the Owner of the Folder where the programs are installed? Is the Folder included in a Library?

Installed alanwake from CD using the setup into D:/games/AlanWake. I download the updates from the games support site and click the setup which launches the standard windows installer which then says the file is in use. The file is NOT in use in ANY taskmanager or process explorer(sysinternals). If I delete alanwake.exe then start the update setup it updates just fine.

Second example I downloaded from the internet using firefox a download manager called 'internet download manager' (IDM), which goes into my documents folder. I then download the update from the site using the download manager to a folder called C:\downloads. I then close the download manager and see that it HAS quit and there is no IDM.exe process running. I then start the update setup and get the SAME error and if I delete idm.exe then run the update it updates. So I try in safe mode and still get the same error that the file is running. I even try something different where I rename the IDM folder to IDMNEW, restart the PC and then rename the folder back to IDM after a windows has settled down. I try to update and the error is that IDM.exe is in use. I can unlock and delete these programs using unlocker which shows that explorer locks the programs ONLY after trying to update them. It NEVER locks them untill the files fiolder is opened or the setup tries to update the file.

 

[carwiz]

OK, that sounds like something is grabbing the file. Perhaps your virus checker. What happens if you wait a while before applying the updates? Say 10-15 minutes.

Also, are you running any file sharing or Torrent software?

 

[lehnerus2000]

Search for handle/thread

In "Process Explorer" you can search for the file and it can show you what handles/threads are attached to it.

When I can't remove an external HDD, I search for the drive letter and invariably Windows Explorer is refusing to "detach" itself.

​

 

[Stevvie]

No torrent and virus checker is Microsoft Security Essentials. In Proccess explorer it just says EXPLORER.EXE has locked the file.