StarDestroyer.Net BBS

Right, this is really winding me, so if anyone has any thoughts, I would be very grateful.

I have a large 700 meg avi (although it isnt quite an avi file, it wont play in real player - something about a class error) file downloaded from the network ftp program, and it refuses to delete.

I get a 'this file is being used by something else' message and it wont delete. I have restarted, turned off etc numerous times since the download, and I have a hunch that whatever its doing isnt too good for the computer, as it seems to be lagging more than usual. I'm running XP, and have tried stopping sharing the folder containing the file, I have closed down all programs which could possibily be connected to it (although I cant guarantee I've tried all of them), and basically, it's taking up 1/15th of my HD space and is generally winding me up.

Any thoughts on how to purge this critter?

Hmmm... Have you tried starting Windows in Safe Mode and then deleting it? That might do it.

You know what, I just had a similar problem. Do the Safe Mode thing. I'd bet a buck that will work.

'fraid it didnt, still got the same error message:

This file is being used by another person or program, please close these programs and try again.

Only I cant figure out what on earth is still using it...

Thanks though.

I thought Safe Mode shuts all programs off except the essential stuff that loads Windows itself. It should prevent that thing from loading in the first place... That is odd.

IIRC, I had that problem with some downloaded files where the download broke down. Same error message (OK., so I got the german version).
Seems the system thought the DL was still in progress and wouldn't let me touch the files. I eventually just deleted them from the command line.

Have you tried stopping Real Player in TaskManager then deleteing the file?

Just curious have you tried using Media Player to play the file?

Are you sure it is a real AVI and not somthing disguised as one?

See what happens when you try to delete the file from a CMD prompt.

Ahhh... the command line thing did it, thanks guys, much appreciated...

EDIT: Now this threads purpose is served, do I simply delete it? or get a mod to lock it or what?

Whenever you click on a file, Explorer.exe attempts to open it so it can display the preview. Hence Explorer is the one using the file.

Stupid, I know.

Really? Bloody hell, that is stupid, how else do they expect some of us poor novices to delete things? Still, that explains that, thanks.

*goes off to tell his other poor novice mates with similar problems*

Thats why I disable my preview pane.

Goto Tools, select Options. Then where it says "Tasks" (under the general tab), select "Use Windows Classic Folders". Click Apply, then click "Apply to All Folders". Click yes to the popup window.

Problem solved.

btw, you may want to scan your machine with an anti-virus program. Hell, scan it with Ad-Aware as well, just to be on the safe side.

Think i might do that, sounds like a good plan... virus scanned it this morning, we get norton supplied with a site license which is ok, and it seems to do a good job - I kept getting bugbear from someone elses printer, which was annoying, and I found a shared folder this week, which i'd forgotten about, filled with viruses (viri?) and suspicious programmes (programmi ), de-shared that one pretty quick...

Anyway, as I said, thanks for the help, people, my computer has been spared a nasty 'accident' which I dont think the insurance people would have believed...

Good work. I'll turn the lights off for ya