Cannot rename folder

[FourWheelDrift]

This is starting to really annoy me, XP (that useless bug ridden pile of poo) has started to prevent me from changing the name of a folder by clicking once on it's name and changing it. (Explorer doesn't do it either) It says it' can't because "it's currently in use" but it isn't nothing is accessing it, no program is using it, nothing. Yet it thinks it is. There are no programs running in the Task Manager and from what I can work out no obvious processes either. Only a reboot solves the problem.

Does anyone know how to solve this annoyance or indeed the process in the task manager I should be looking at shutting down (if any) ?

Thanks

[docevi1]

you can sometimes beat the system by refreashing the folder it's in, but instead of restarting your machine you can:

open command window in the directory containing the one to rename
open taskmanager and end explorer.exe (but leave taskmanager open)
rename the file using rename originalName newName (?)
restart explorer.exe using taskmanger, run.

As for what is causing the problem? I've known programs and services to be registered as using the folder and upon closing the lock is left in place - if you wait a short while that lock is reset and you can delete/rename/fiddle to your hearts content. It begs the question, what are you running before you try to rename the folder

[dilbert]

docevi1 said:

you can sometimes beat the system by refreashing the folder it's in, but instead of restarting your machine you can: open command window in the directory containing the one to rename open taskmanager and end explorer.exe (but leave taskmanager open) rename the file using rename originalName newName (?) restart explorer.exe using taskmanger, run. As for what is causing the problem? I've known programs and services to be registered as using the folder and upon closing the lock is left in place - if you wait a short while that lock is reset and you can delete/rename/fiddle to your hearts content. It begs the question, what are you running before you try to rename the folder

Some of that poxy spyware is able to run a process that doesn't appear in the process list. I'd certainly be thinking along those lines.

[FourWheelDrift]

No spyware on my machine. It's a graphics folder but I didn't run Irfanview (pic viewer) on it, but I did have the folder (well XP decided to view it itself) on thumbnail view. That's all.

I'll try some of the above to see if it does the trick, I did wait a while already though.

[docevi1]

good point, although I don't see how it could be working with one specific folder?

Hmm, could it be windows doing a restore point or similar? Virus checker?

I'd do the standard checks either way (AntiVir/Avast/AVG, Spybot & AdAware) and if that doesn't help, try looking at HiJack This and finding someone who understands the output

[simpo two]

My hunch would be spyware too - I found some odd stuff lurking in my Norton folder (when I used NAV). Have you tried Microsoft Giant?

[docevi1]

FourWheelDrift said:

No spyware on my machine. It's a graphics folder but I didn't run Irfanview (pic viewer) on it, but I did have the folder (well XP decided to view it itself) on thumbnail view. That's all. I'll try some of the above to see if it does the trick, I did wait a while already though.

aha, thumbs.db I'd warrant a bet that windows is trying to updates it's thumbnail directory for that folder and as such as placed a lock on it.

Then again, I might be talking bollox

[rebelstar]

Try using filemon from www.sysinternals.com - it gives you a list of all files and directories being accessed and the processes which have them open.

[Hanslow]

I use this handy little shell extension to help with these sorts of problems

[FourWheelDrift]

Hanslow said:

I use this handy little shell extension to help with these sorts of problems

That did the trick. Explorer.exe had locked it. Too many things running to upset that at the moment but I shall give it a good kicking later.

Thanks all