stuck folder

I have a folder on my desktop that I downloaded off torrents and now I can't move, delete, or even rename it because it says some other program is using it. However, I exited the torrent program and checked everything and nothing is using it. Any ideas?

 

Have you checked Task Manager to see what applications are running i.e. any active Bittorent Programs? Have you tried rebooting the system?

Those are the two things I would try first.

 

by 'checked everything' do you mean you went through all the running services? reboot?

I'd try a restart, if you havent already. I would say to boot into safe mode and delete it, but if something is using it (again, assuming the folder is empty), deleting it in safe mode will simply reveal an error later. However, that could give you a clue about what's looking for it!

EDIT - post above not there when I crafted this reply! too slow...

 

i had this once, it's spyware, boot in safe mode and try deleting it. or, boot in dos and delete it

 

You probably downloaded something that is spyware. aan310's tips should help you.

 

There's a good chance it isn't any spyware.. many applications don't properly close file handles on exit. But if it still doesn't work on reboot, then something's fishy.

If you can't delete it after a reboot, download Process Explorer, run it, click Find > Find Handle or DLL; in the search box type the name of the locked folder (or the full path if there's too many results to look through); then you can see which applications are using the folder.

 

iza, I did what you suggested but Process Explorer couldn't find the folder, even when I typed in the full path. Also, the folder is not empty. There is a video file, a cd image file, and some other stuff in there.

 

Another tool to use for seeing which processes are running is Taskinfo. There is a trial period. It will show you all processes on your PC. As mentioned in the above posts, find the path of the process to the folder you are trying to remove, then kill the process. You can do this through taskinfo. Then try to remove the folder.

 

if you boot into safe mode extraneous processes wont be loaded.

 

If you cannot still delete it, use a Windows PE cd. Load it up and delete it.