Regulary can't delete folders

Hi,

I regulary can't delete a folder from Explorer, I get the error:

'Can't delete FOLDER_NAME it is being used by another process. Close any
programs that might be using the file and try again'.

This happens with a wide veriety of folders and, after a while or a
reboot, I can delete the folder as normal. Now I would expect this to
happen when a file in the folder, or in a sub-folder of it, is open and
in use by some software - but it's not, and I have checked in 'task
manager' to make sure that the software's process is ended (because if
the process has stayed alive this would explain my problem, but it hasn't).

To further confuse me - I have been able to delete all the files in a
folder which I can't delete, but then not been able to delete the folder
itself (my Explorer settings show all hidden and system files so I'm
sure the folder is empty).

In desperation I've also tried using another file manager, a downloaded
piece of freeware, and that too fails to delete the folder.

How can I sort this out? It is very annoying.

Many thanks, regards, etc..

The date and time was 2/18/2008 7:14 AM, and on a whim, Poster Matt
pounded out on the keyboard:

> Hi,
>
> I regulary can't delete a folder from Explorer, I get the error:
>
> 'Can't delete FOLDER_NAME it is being used by another process. Close any
> programs that might be using the file and try again'.
>
> This happens with a wide veriety of folders and, after a while or a
> reboot, I can delete the folder as normal. Now I would expect this to
> happen when a file in the folder, or in a sub-folder of it, is open and
> in use by some software - but it's not, and I have checked in 'task
> manager' to make sure that the software's process is ended (because if
> the process has stayed alive this would explain my problem, but it hasn't).
>
> To further confuse me - I have been able to delete all the files in a
> folder which I can't delete, but then not been able to delete the folder
> itself (my Explorer settings show all hidden and system files so I'm
> sure the folder is empty).
>
> In desperation I've also tried using another file manager, a downloaded
> piece of freeware, and that too fails to delete the folder.
>
> How can I sort this out? It is very annoying.
>
> Many thanks, regards, etc..

Hi Matt,

Are you disabling antivirus scanning or programs of that nature in your
testing also? If files or folders are being scanned, the same issue can
happen.

With so many different programs out there, troubleshooting becomes a
trial and error matter. You start by disabling everything and then
introducing one at a time until the problem starts again.

--
Terry R.

***Reply Note***
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Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.

Terry R. wrote:
> The date and time was 2/18/2008 7:14 AM, and on a whim, Poster Matt
> pounded out on the keyboard:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I regulary can't delete a folder from Explorer, I get the error:
>>
>> 'Can't delete FOLDER_NAME it is being used by another process. Close
>> any programs that might be using the file and try again'.
>>
>> This happens with a wide veriety of folders and, after a while or a
>> reboot, I can delete the folder as normal. Now I would expect this to
>> happen when a file in the folder, or in a sub-folder of it, is open
>> and in use by some software - but it's not, and I have checked in
>> 'task manager' to make sure that the software's process is ended
>> (because if the process has stayed alive this would explain my
>> problem, but it hasn't).
>>
>> To further confuse me - I have been able to delete all the files in a
>> folder which I can't delete, but then not been able to delete the
>> folder itself (my Explorer settings show all hidden and system files
>> so I'm sure the folder is empty).
>>
>> In desperation I've also tried using another file manager, a
>> downloaded piece of freeware, and that too fails to delete the folder.
>>
>> How can I sort this out? It is very annoying.
>>
>> Many thanks, regards, etc..
>
> Hi Matt,
>
> Are you disabling antivirus scanning or programs of that nature in your
> testing also? If files or folders are being scanned, the same issue can
> happen.
>
> With so many different programs out there, troubleshooting becomes a
> trial and error matter. You start by disabling everything and then
> introducing one at a time until the problem starts again.
>

Thanks Terry. But no, no virus/malware/etc. scans in progress at all.
The problem with testing as you suggest is that the folder deleting
problem is intermittent, but next time it happens I'll try closing
software and see if I can resolve the problem.

Cheers.

"Poster Matt" <postermatt@no_spam_for_me.org> wrote in message
news:A1ouj.9663$XI.1279@text.news.virginmedia.com. ..
> Terry R. wrote:
>> The date and time was 2/18/2008 7:14 AM, and on a whim, Poster Matt
>> pounded out on the keyboard:
>>
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I regulary can't delete a folder from Explorer, I get the error:
>>>
>>> 'Can't delete FOLDER_NAME it is being used by another process. Close any
>>> programs that might be using the file and try again'.
>>>
>>> This happens with a wide veriety of folders and, after a while or a
>>> reboot, I can delete the folder as normal. Now I would expect this to
>>> happen when a file in the folder, or in a sub-folder of it, is open and
>>> in use by some software - but it's not, and I have checked in 'task
>>> manager' to make sure that the software's process is ended (because if
>>> the process has stayed alive this would explain my problem, but it
>>> hasn't).
>>>
>>> To further confuse me - I have been able to delete all the files in a
>>> folder which I can't delete, but then not been able to delete the folder
>>> itself (my Explorer settings show all hidden and system files so I'm
>>> sure the folder is empty).
>>>
>>> In desperation I've also tried using another file manager, a downloaded
>>> piece of freeware, and that too fails to delete the folder.
>>>
>>> How can I sort this out? It is very annoying.
>>>
>>> Many thanks, regards, etc..
>>
>> Hi Matt,
>>
>> Are you disabling antivirus scanning or programs of that nature in your
>> testing also? If files or folders are being scanned, the same issue can
>> happen.
>>
>> With so many different programs out there, troubleshooting becomes a
>> trial and error matter. You start by disabling everything and then
>> introducing one at a time until the problem starts again.
>>
>
> Thanks Terry. But no, no virus/malware/etc. scans in progress at all. The
> problem with testing as you suggest is that the folder deleting problem is
> intermittent, but next time it happens I'll try closing software and see
> if I can resolve the problem.
>
> Cheers.

Are you by chance deleting folders from the left pane of explorer? I have a
similar problem if I try to delete from the left side the contents go but
the folder remains? If I delete from the right pane everything goes as
expected. I don't know what causes this behavior but you might want to
change to right pane.

Good luck, Rich

Rich wrote:
> Are you by chance deleting folders from the left pane of explorer? I have a
> similar problem if I try to delete from the left side the contents go but
> the folder remains? If I delete from the right pane everything goes as
> expected. I don't know what causes this behavior but you might want to
> change to right pane.

Nope, just 'normally' in the right pane. Thanks.

have u tried deleting the individual files in the folder?
that should give u a clue as to what program is involved.

I had JPG files in the ones I couldn't delete.
It was the MS Office viewer. When I opened the file then closed the
program, the program continued to run in the background.
Look in task manager for a program you closed but is still running in
the background.
MS office viewer is "OIS".
problem is I have the issue on another computer now and forgot what I
did to fix it. no one here could tell me but I may have posted the
answer. Haven't looked yet. I might have been an MS patch

Poster Matt wrote:
> I regulary can't delete a folder from Explorer, I get the error:
>
> 'Can't delete FOLDER_NAME it is being used by another process.
> Close any programs that might be using the file and try again'.
>
> This happens with a wide veriety of folders and, after a while or a
> reboot, I can delete the folder as normal. Now I would expect this
> to happen when a file in the folder, or in a sub-folder of it, is
> open and in use by some software - but it's not, and I have checked in
> 'task
> manager' to make sure that the software's process is ended (because
> if the process has stayed alive this would explain my problem, but it
> hasn't).
> To further confuse me - I have been able to delete all the files in
> a folder which I can't delete, but then not been able to delete the
> folder itself (my Explorer settings show all hidden and system
> files so I'm sure the folder is empty).
>
> In desperation I've also tried using another file manager, a
> downloaded piece of freeware, and that too fails to delete the
> folder.
> How can I sort this out? It is very annoying.

Terry R. wrote:
> Are you disabling antivirus scanning or programs of that nature in
> your testing also? If files or folders are being scanned, the same
> issue can happen.
>
> With so many different programs out there, troubleshooting becomes a
> trial and error matter. You start by disabling everything and then
> introducing one at a time until the problem starts again.

Poster Matt wrote:
> Thanks Terry. But no, no virus/malware/etc. scans in progress at
> all. The problem with testing as you suggest is that the folder
> deleting problem is intermittent, but next time it happens I'll try
> closing software and see if I can resolve the problem.

Rich wrote:
> Are you by chance deleting folders from the left pane of explorer?
> I have a similar problem if I try to delete from the left side the
> contents go but the folder remains? If I delete from the right pane
> everything goes as expected. I don't know what causes this behavior
> but you might want to change to right pane.

Poster Matt wrote:
> Nope, just 'normally' in the right pane. Thanks.

Google for, download and install:

UnLocker

Try using it. ;-)

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html