# File wont delete?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/file-wont-delete/286885>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 27, 2005, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/file-wont-delete/286885 "2005-01-27T06:02:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 12\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Qwertyasdfg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Qwertyasdfg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwertyasdfg)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/file-wont-delete/286885/1 "2005-01-27T06:02:47Z")

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I have a video file on my computer that, whenever I try to delete it, it gives me an error message saying

> [@](#):
>
> Cannot delete \<file name\>. It is being used by another person or program. Close any programs that might be using the file and try again.

I’ve closed all the programs but I still get the message. Any ideas on what causes this and how to fix it? I’m using Windows XP Home.

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**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/file-wont-delete/286885/2 "2005-01-27T06:34:57Z")

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Try rebooting and then deleting (without opening the file or playing it or anything).

I’ve found that sometimes the system seems to think a file is still in use, but rebooting will clear it out. Worth a try.

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**Author:** ![Qwertyasdfg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Qwertyasdfg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwertyasdfg)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/file-wont-delete/286885/3 "2005-01-27T06:56:42Z")

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I tried that, didn’t work. Thanks though.

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**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/file-wont-delete/286885/4 "2005-01-27T07:05:17Z")

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Try booting in safe mode and deleting the file.

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**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/file-wont-delete/286885/5 "2005-01-27T07:10:42Z")

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Well you could search for the process that has it locked and kill the process, or start shutting down services one at a time until the file will delete but if you aren’t familiar with what you are doing it can be a kinda hairy ride.

However here’s a link to a free utility that claims to do just what you want:

> **[MoveOnBoot 1.9.5 - Software Patch](https://www.softwarepatch.com/moveonboot/)**
>
> MoveOnBoot allows you to Move, Copy or Delete files before Windows can lock or alter the files. The changes are made to your hard drive before Windows starts (it requires a restart of your system after you give MoveOnBoot its instructions). There are...

Disclaimer: Link found after at least 7 strenuous seconds of Googling. I have never used this utility and don’t vouch for it. Use at your own risk 🙂

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**Author:** ![Qwertyasdfg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Qwertyasdfg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwertyasdfg)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/file-wont-delete/286885/6 "2005-01-27T08:48:16Z")

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How do I boot in safe mode?

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**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/file-wont-delete/286885/7 "2005-01-27T09:05:04Z")

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You can also try this little trick:  
[ol][li]Open a command prompt window (window-ed, not full screen)[/li][li]Press ctrl-alt-del[/li][li]Press Task Manager[/li][li]Click on Processes[/li][li]Click on explorer.exe and click End Process (this shuts down the Windows’ GUI)[/li][li]Now in the command prompt window type **del _C:\filepath\filename_** \<–insert real file name & path[/li][li]Again at the command prompt type explorer and hit enter (this starts the GUI back up)[/li][li]Close the command prompt window (type exit)[/li][/ol]  
This will work if explorer.exe (which is the windows GUI program) is the application that’s using the file you’re trying to delete. You’re just shutting down the GUI, deleting the file, then starting the GUI up again. That’s why you have to open the command prompt **before** shutting down the GUI, else you’ll have no way to restart it (w/o rebooting).

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**Author:** ![theLaughingMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/90db22/32.png) [@theLaughingMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/theLaughingMan)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/file-wont-delete/286885/8 "2005-01-27T09:08:44Z")

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Press F8 when the computer is booting up, after BIOS but before Windows get to the splash screen. It should say “Windows is now loading…” or something similar. Then choose SAFE MODE.

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**Author:** ![Roadruner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Roadruner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadruner)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/file-wont-delete/286885/9 "2005-01-27T09:11:35Z")

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> [@Qwertyasdfg](#):
>
> How do I boot in safe mode?

Press F8 while booting then highlight “Safe Mode” and enter. Good luck.

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**Author:** ![hammos1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@hammos1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hammos1)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/file-wont-delete/286885/10 "2005-01-27T12:21:03Z")

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Is the file in question an .avi file? If so, I’ve had the same problem in XP Home.

I found the solution [here](http://forums.techguy.org/showthread.php?threadid=183744&e2cd833de6d5a882cc0422c34eee36a8). See post by LwdSquashman on deleting the registry setting.

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**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/file-wont-delete/286885/11 "2005-01-27T12:26:35Z")

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It sounds like you’re trying to delete it in Windows explorer with a preview pane on, yes?

If so, the file is opened by Windows Media Player when you select it.

Right-click the file and rename it to “1.dat” - it’ll give you some warning about changing the extension, don’t worry about it.

Select different .avi or .mpg, to release the currect file.

Then right-click 1.dat & select delete.

You should be all set.

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**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/file-wont-delete/286885/12 "2005-01-27T15:55:32Z")

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Too bas you have XP, in 98, whenever I had a file I couldn’t deelte and knew to be basically useless, I just botted up in DOS and zapped that sucker into oblivion, it doesn’t even go to the damn recycle bin! Next best thing to a ‘file shredder’ or reformat.