Unlock files because of sharing violations

[zridling]

From CNet:
Unlocker is an Explorer extension that allows you with a simple right-click of the mouse on a file or folder to get rid of error message such as error deleting file or folder, cannot delete folder: it is used by another person or program. Ever had such an annoying message given by Windows? Cannot delete file: Access is denied There has been a sharing violation. The source or destination file may be in use. The file is in use by another program or user. Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is not currently in use....

       

This happens often after playing games or when DLLs get shared once too often. Unlocker is a nice donationware solution.

[mouser]

i've used "wholockme" to report what app is locking a file, which can be very useful
http://www.dr-hoiby.com/WhoLockMe/index.php

but this app seems like it might be better.

[kfitting]

I've used unlocker... works well.  I've also just recently downloaded mst software's mstIsUsedBy (http://mstsoftware.com/c_mst_IsUsedBy.aspx) though I havent actually had a reason to use it since I installed it so I dont know how well it works.  Unlocker works pretty well though!

Kevin

[mouser]

just bumping this up a bit - WhoLockMe (http://www.dr-hoiby.com/WhoLockMe/index.php) saved me today, showing me that some annoying phantom copy of winhelp was locking a directory i was trying to rename.

if you ever find windows reporting a file/folder is in use and wont let you delete/rename it, and you cant figure out why, one of these tools is just what you need.

[skywalka]

U can use a switch when U start Unlocker that won't report what process is locking the folder but will unlock it automatically.

I've got both options in my context menu.

[mouser]

bumping this post back up because i was just talking to a member (L.J.Thomas) who was telling me about unlocker and i noticed the awesome comparison chart on the unlocker page - really looks nice (http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/).

[Curt]

- or, if you read German: SoftwareOK FingerWeg

FingerWeg 1.33 Description: DEUTSCH
Update: 17.02.2008 
[attachimg=#]
FingerWeg ist ein kleines und effektives Programm, wenn es darum geht, gesperrte (geschützte) Dateien zu endsperren oder zu löschen.
So manches professionelles Virenscannprogramm stößt hier an seine Grenzen, FingerWeg macht hier einfach weiter!

Installation ist nicht erforderlich, FingerWeg einfach am Desktop platzieren und Dateien per Drop auf FingerWeg ablegen .
Mit gerade mal 67 KB ist es keine Belastung !

http://www.softwareok.de/?seite=Software/FingerWeg

[Grorgy]

Just added it to the weapons cabinet, but interestingly, and somewhat annoyingly it added a shortcut to Ebay to my desktop. 

[Grorgy]

Ahhh ok, it is a pre ticked checkbox, still i missed it, I reckon these things need large red type that say "this is some crap you haven't asked for but we want you to have anyway"

[jgpaiva]

Just a heads-up: the great Unlocker doesn't work on Vista64. But you can use ProcessExplorer's "find handle" menu option to obtain the same effect. It allows you to know which app is using the file, then close the handle.

[lanux128]

Unlocker is such an efficient software, got me out of a bind more than once. but as with all software, always read through the changelog before downloading a new version.

[Deozaan]

I really could have used this a few days ago. Nothing but a reboot seems to unlock some files sometimes.

Thanks!