File in Use... ARG!

[DysconneX]

Hey All. I'm running a Windows XP system, and I do alot of file moving. Sometimes, windows will refuse to allow me to move a file or folder, claiming that it is in use, and to close any programs that may be using it. I check through my running tasks and decide that nothing can be using the file except windows itself.

Restarting fixes the problem, but it greatly destroys my productivity, forcing me to restart while I am in the middle of something.

Is this a common problem? I have all the updates offered to me on Windowsupdate.com, except the Service Pack 1 update. I had it installed earlier, and learned that it was no good. Many people recommended I remove it.

[Nuclear Krusader]

I removed it and then installed it again, since I saw no real advantage in removing it. XP did slow down the first time I installed it, but after removing it and reinstalling it everything was fine.

It all depends on what files you are moving. I have never experienced problems with personal files but if you are moving dlls or files like those then that should be the prob.

What kind of files are you trying to move?

[DysconneX]

Things like Zip files and their contents, which can be setup exes, txt files, even mp3s. I'll open them in WinRAR, extract the files, Close Winrar, and try moving the extracted files to a better place (without opening the files or anything) and it'll say they are in use.

[mike breck]

Don't know if this will help, but try turning off the XP Indexing Service. It's a good performance tweak anyway.

Start>Control Panel>Performance and Maintenance> Administrator Tools>Services> Select "Indexing Service">
(Double Click) Disable and Stop the Service.

HTH

[darkmessenger03]

I get this sometimes too, so I use a file manager like FileQuest to move it or delete it whenver it wants to be difficult. That's my workaround....

[DysconneX]

Thanks breck, but it was already off and disabled.

I might try FileQuest.... After all, its not like I have a better option.