Every time I download an AVI from this site, which is pretty rare as I usually get the emulator movie file, it is undeletable by normal means. Windows states that it is in use by another user or service, even right after a fresh boot. This happens regardless of the bittorrent client used (tested with bittornado, azureus and utorrent) or where or on what I save it on. There appears to be nothing wrong with the file attributes. This only happens with AVIs downloaded from this site, I have no such problem with any other video or file from any other site.
Anyone has any idea?
When a file is accessed it opens what's called a "file handle" in the system. Sometimes when you're done with the file (this could mean removing it from your bit torrent client, or after watching it) the file handle doesn't close properly. After you reboot you should be able to delete the file fine, as that will force all file handles to close. The only reason I would think you wouldn't be able to is if you've still got the file in your torrent client and that starts up with Windows.
If you want to investigate or close stubborn file handles yourself, try out Process Explorer: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/processesandthreads/processexplorer.mspx
Click on the binoculars and type in part of the file name and it will tell you exactly where it's at, then you can right click and close handle in the main screen.
As far as why the files from this site and not others are being kept open, who knows. It could very likely be a component of the codec used that's misconfigured on your system. It's very odd that you're not able to delete them on startup.
This won't work. If a file handle is open for some reason it won't close just because you're using the command prompt. If you boot up using a separate boot disk, or go into safe mode or some such, you might be able to delete it, but this is a pain to do every time you want to delete one or two files. I'd just investigate with process explorer.
Actually, sometimes just selecting the file, waiting 1 minute, and then deleting it does the trick. Happens here all the time with certain AVI's for me.
It appears it's explorer.exe that keeps the file handle open. Killing the process does nothing as Windows immediately restarts it and it presumably reopens another file handle on the AVI. Rebooting doesn't work. The only solution I found is using a third party app that allows files to be deleted on startup.
Again, I reiterate that this only happens with AVIs downloaded from this site, which is downright bizarre.
Windows XP likes to query AVI files so it can display their duration and resolution (and other stuff) in the Explorer window status bar. Unfortunately, if there's anything wrong with the AVI file, Windows will scan through the entire file to find the information it wants. While it's looking for that information, the file is open and you can't rename or delete it, but if you wait a few seconds you should be able to.
Alternatively, you can just turn off that annoying behavior completely by doing the following:
1. Open regedit
2. Locate the key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.avi\shellex\PropertyHandler
3. Observe that the "(Default)" value should be set to "{87D62D94-71B3-4b9a-9489-5FE6850DC73E}"
4. Select "(Default)", press the DEL key, and answer "Yes" and note that it now says "(value not set)"
* Quietust, QMT Productions
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Joined: 11/18/2006
Posts: 2426
Location: Back where I belong
I used to have this exact same problem, except with emulators and poker software. All the freaking time too... then suddenly it stopped, for no apparent reason (although I've been damn careful to not move around many files, since that seemed to cause the majority of problems). One of the many joys of owning a windoze box *bangs head repeatedly into wall*
Whenever I have a problem like this, what I do is this:
1) Open notepad
2) File --> Save as...
3) Select "All types" in the types list
4) Select the "locked" AVI file
5) Click "Save", it will ask if you want to overwrite or not, say Yes
6) Delete the file using normal means.
For some reason, this method never failed. It simply overwrites the .avi with a 0 byte text file. Then, explorer.exe stops locking it for some reason, and then you can delete it.
I always had problems with deleting .avi but I solve it just by waiting long enough.
I had always suspected that Windows XP opens the file while trying to get information. That is, when you click on the file.
Halamantariel wrote:
For some reason, this method never failed. It simply overwrites the .avi with a 0 byte text file. Then, explorer.exe stops locking it for some reason, and then you can delete it.
That's because you didn't click on the .avi file, so Windows XP doesn't open the file to get information. That's a good solution, though.
Fixed. I didn't know that anyone still used such an old OS to watch AVIs, among other things.
To make this post have substance...
I also used to use unlocker. Now I just use the command prompt. If it still complains, I kill explorer.exe, go to task manager, say file new task "run," and then cd to the file I want to delete. That has never failed me.
According to DK64_MASTER,
> RT-55J wrote:
> > I've had problems I use Windows 98.
No he didn't. Who has invented that people need to "fix" other people's sayings?
I find that annoying. Not the least because it disturbs the normal rhythm of reading. You read from up to down, and only once you're already past the quote, you learn that the quote you just read was a lie. It forces to reinterpret the message and read it again. It is an annoyance to readers.
Also, rewriting other people's words is an offense towards those whom you misquote; it is badmouthing them.
If it still complains, I kill explorer.exe, go to task manager, say file new task "run," and then cd to the file I want to delete. That has never failed me.
That closes all explorer-related windows and a half of otherwise uninvokable tray applications. This is, from what I remember, the worst way to deal with that problem aside from rebooting.
Warp wrote:
Edit: I think I understand now: It's my avatar, isn't it? It makes me look angry.
Maybe every instance of fixing posts on the forum should automatically get replaced with the phrase "IT AINT BROKE MOTHAFUCKA!!!!!!!!!!", aiming to discourage its use in a subtle manner.
<Swordless> Go hug a tree, you vegetarian (I bet you really are one)
Also, rewriting other people's words is an offense towards those whom you misquote; it is badmouthing them.
It was just a joke, I didn't think it was offensive. I thought it was a humorous way to imply that using Windows 98 is very uncommon.
moozooh wrote:
DK64_MASTER wrote:
If it still complains, I kill explorer.exe, go to task manager, say file new task "run," and then cd to the file I want to delete. That has never failed me.
That closes all explorer-related windows and a half of otherwise uninvokable tray applications. This is, from what I remember, the worst way to deal with that problem aside from rebooting.
Well, if you can't delete something you are going to reboot anyways. There is the problem of losing Explorer related Windows, but as soon as you re-invoke explorer.exe your startup tray icons should come back. I don't know about you, but I don't have any icons in the tray that I run after windows boots, so it doesn't present a problem to me. So in my case, the worst case scenario is you losing an explorer window.
The notepad thing is a good idea, but then you lose avi if your initial plan is just to move it to a new directory. If you want to move the avi to a new directory, I guess you could copy it, and then delete it. This method is superior to mine. Thanks for the tip.
I find installing an application (unlocker) that I only use once in a blue moon annoying, and after you uninstall it, you still have to reboot to get rid of the explorer extension (not sure if you have an option to not install that thing to begin with).
The notepad thing is a good idea, but then you lose avi if your initial plan is just to move it to a new directory. If you want to move the avi to a new directory, I guess you could copy it, and then delete it. This method is superior to mine. Thanks for the tip.
I don't recommend copying it. For large files it is much faster to move than to copy, even after waiting.
"Moving" a file on the same disk is equivalent to renaming it. It doesn't actually move in memory. That's a good thing (unless you're defragmenting the disk).
Of course, you could move it via the command prompt.
JXQ wrote:
Maybe every instance of fixing posts on the forum should automatically get replaced ... aiming to discourage its use in a subtle manner.
I'm sure that some other forums prevent posters from modifying quotes, by making them refer only to post numbers.
On the issue of modifying quotes, I have done it before to express what was intended by the quoted poster, although certainly the meaning could be expressed without doing so. It's when users do it to "put words in someone else's mouth" that it could be offensive.
Well, if you can't delete something you are going to reboot anyways.
Why is that? In the worst case, I'll just queue it to be killed on the next reboot, in the best I'll use Unlocker as said.
DK64_MASTER wrote:
as soon as you re-invoke explorer.exe your startup tray icons should come back.
Not every one of them, unfortunately. I prefer to run applications in tray if they have that functionality (I have Fraps, µTorrent, Miranda, Multires, Hypersnap, foobar2000, various connection-related apps all there), and the taskbar not restoring their icons means I have to kill them along with explorer, then restart them. :\
DK64_MASTER wrote:
I find installing an application (unlocker) that I only use once in a blue moon annoying, and after you uninstall it, you still have to reboot to get rid of the explorer extension (not sure if you have an option to not install that thing to begin with).
Well it doesn't really take any time neither to download nor to install nor to uninstall it, and you can choose to disable the explorer extension during installation as well. But then again, it's just that little program that gets things done exactly when it's needed, even if it's a rare thing. After all, you don't have first-aid kits or airbags or emergency ladders for everyday means.
Warp wrote:
Edit: I think I understand now: It's my avatar, isn't it? It makes me look angry.
