Problem with locked EXE files

[Metalmurphy]

I've been having this weird problem with W7 64Bits. Sometimes EXE files get locked by the system. For example I delete an entire folder and it tells me that the folder can't be removed. I enter the folder and all the files except the EXE files are gone. I try to delete them manually and it doesn't work.

If I do a quick reboot and delete the files right away it works, but after a while I start getting the problem again.

Sometimes game updaters and such also say they can't patch some EXE files.



Any idea why this is happening?

 

[not so gray matter]

This could be due to permissions, or it could be that a program is using those resources when you're attempting to delete them.

Using the program Unlocker, you can tell if a file/folder is in use by another program.
Download Unlocker 1.9.0 Free - Get rid of error message like Error deleting file or folder, cannot delete folder: it's being used by another person or program - Softpedia

If your permissions are hinky, you can simply right click on the file/folder go to properties and permissions/ownership and take ownership of the file/folder. Also, you may need to be on an administrator account.

 

[Metalmurphy]

Well, the fact that it's so random when It happens makes me think it's not really a program using the files, unless ofc, I've been infected by a really smart virus that is using them. I must say I'm an above average PC user and I can identify viruses easily, unless this is like something I've never seen before I don't think i've been infected.

I'll give it a shot to that unlocker tool next time I run into the problem.


*edit* And funnily enough, it just happened again with that same file

Firefox reservs both the unlocker1.9.0.part and unlocker1.9.0.exe files as soon as the download starts, and after the download finished, when it tried to delete the reserved .exe to replace it with the actual file it wasn't able to.

 

[Metalmurphy]

Ok, unlocker was no help. It showed that no process was using it.

I'm now trying to delete a EXE file. I delete it, it disappears, I refresh the folder and there it is again. And because of that I can't delete the folder.

*edit* And now it's gone... It seems that the file just stays locked for a long time (about 1 minute).

 

[motc7]

Try this.

• Boot to safe mode. Safe mode only, do not select safe mode with networking.
• Find that .exe file and delete it.
• If it will not straight delete, change the name of the file to something else with a different file extension, such as .txt. Then try to delete.
• If it deletes, restart computer into normal mode and carry on!

 

[Metalmurphy]

Well like I said, if I reboot and delete the file it works, but soon after I start having the same problem again. And since it's a recurring problem it's affecting lots of programs. For example, right now I want to play Team Fortress 2 but I can't because Steam can't update itself.

I need to find a way to fix this problem instead of just working around it.

 

[motc7]

Well like I said, if I reboot and delete the file it works, but soon after I start having the same problem again. And since it's a recurring problem it's affecting lots of programs. For example, right now I want to play Team Fortress 2 but I can't because Steam can't update itself.

I need to find a way to fix this problem instead of just working around it.

You say you delete the file, but have you deleted it when you are in safe mode yet?

Also, have you tried the Windows Uninstaller yet? I know that Microsoft no longer supports it as of June 26, 2010 but still does wonders.

|MG| Windows Installer CleanUp Utility 7.2 Download


Here's something else to try as well.

http://majorgeeks.com/Revo_Uninstaller_d5706.html

 

[Metalmurphy]

What is the uninstaller supposed to do? Remember my problem isn't just about deleting files, it's that they get locked. So they can't be patched/renamed/etc.

 

[motc7]

What is the uninstaller supposed to do? Remember my problem isn't just about deleting files, it's that they get locked. So they can't be patched/renamed/etc.

o.k. Sorry, just re-read.


Goto Windows Explorer, and then goto the following directory.

C:\Users\yourusername

I want you to right click that folder and goto properties. Then goto the Security Tab. Take a screenshot and post it here.


Make sure you get a pic of all the usernames that have access to those folders, and specifically, highlight your username and take the screenshot. I'm thinking this is a permissions issue.

 

[Metalmurphy]

Here it is.

There's a "Special Permissions" that isn't listed there, to which there was no check mark on either Allow or Deny.


I should also add that I noticed that some (or maybe all but I didn't wait long enough) files DO disappear after a LONG time. For exemple, I was just trying to update steam, and it gave me that error you see above. I went to the steam folder and steam.exe was there. Without me doing anything it wasn't there anymore after about 10 minutes. So maybe the EXE files DO get unlocked/deleted after a REALLY long time?

 

[motc7]

This is going to seem kind of drastic, but I don't like what I'm seeing here.

I would scan your computer for malware first.

Malwarebytes it's free.

If nothing comes up there, the I would do a repair install and see if that works.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html?ltr=R

 

[motc7]

This is going to seem kind of drastic, but I don't like what I'm seeing here.

I would scan your computer for malware first.

Malwarebytes it's free.

If nothing comes up there, the I would do a repair install and see if that works.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html?ltr=R

Do we have a verdict yet?

 

[Metalmurphy]

This is going to seem kind of drastic, but I don't like what I'm seeing here.

I would scan your computer for malware first.

Malwarebytes it's free.

If nothing comes up there, the I would do a repair install and see if that works.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html?ltr=R

Do we have a verdict yet?

The scan came clean, after which I gave up and reformatted the whole thing. Everything working fine so far. I just hope I don't come across the same problem again.

 

[hayami]

I have similar problem too. I hate the most when I am DLing a exe file using firefox. The exe got locked instantly and download failed. I have to use Downthemall to download those exe instead.

I used LockerHunter and it reports the exe is locked by System.

Someone said it is related to Application Experience service being disabled. I tried to enable it and it seems it solved the problem.
What part of Windows 7 randomly locks executable files? - The Something Awful Forums

 

[Metalmurphy]

Actually when the download fails with firefox you don't have to re-download.

Just don't clean the Download List in firefox and rename the .part file to .exe

 

[dragonmaster]

I'm also having this same issues. For some unexplained reason windows randomly seems to lock files and they cannot be unlocked. I have yet to hear a satisfactory explination for this. For a while i believed it may have been my anti-virus being a bit overzelous but i have managed to disprove this by replicating the error in both firefox and deleting files with the AV turned OFF.

Does anybody else have an expliantion for this because i am completely stumped.

 

[Metalmurphy]

Actually, I figured out what my problem was. One disabled service was causing it, I'm not sure atm but I think it was Program Compatibility Assistant Service.

See if you have that enabled. If you do then see if any other services that are on by default aren't disabled.

 

[mikedl]

Actually, I figured out what my problem was. One disabled service was causing it, I'm not sure atm but I think it was Program Compatibility Assistant Service.

See if you have that enabled. If you do then see if any other services that are on by default aren't disabled.

Thanks for reporting back, Metalmurphy (are you robo-cop? ), your experience will help others, I'm sure.

 

[streetwolf]

Helped me. Thanks.

 

[Zibri]

I also noticed this behaviour.
It also shows up when you update a program. Sometime I have to wait a minute until the file is unlocked by system.

I wonder what causes this behaviour. It started after SP1. I re-enabled the Application Experience service (which I disabled). I'll let you know if it solves the problem.