# Win XP video file preview

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win-xp-video-file-preview/96996>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 5, 2001, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win-xp-video-file-preview/96996 "2001-12-05T06:36:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2001, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win-xp-video-file-preview/96996/1 "2001-12-05T06:36:29Z")

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I recently upgraded to WinXP, and I have had the following problem when trying to delete video files. As soon as I select the file, the little preview on the left starts trying to show me the first frame of the video.

If I then hit delete, Windows gives me an error that “something else is using this file” until the preview comes up. Thus, I have to wait 3 seconds to delete each video file. Two questions:

1. Where do you set it to not display a preview for video files (I still like the preview for pictures because it is fast enough to not be annoying.

2. Is there anyway to set Windows to force a delete. ie. if a program is using the file, close the program and delete it anyway. I know enough not to delete important stuff.

Thanks, in advance.

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**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2001, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win-xp-video-file-preview/96996/2 "2001-12-05T06:38:33Z")

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Try turning off the single click select option and making it the default double click again