XP "Move To" button - but files in use?

HalOfBorgHalOfBorg West Virginia
edited March 2005 in Science & Tech
I have WinXP Home and Pro on different machines. On BOTH of them, when I try to use the "Move To" button - often I get the "Unable to move" because the file is in use.

MOST of the time - ya, I left something open. But, often, NOTHING is running. Usually I just do something else and move it in a few minutes - and it works.

My XP Home machine is worse now though. I boot the computer, open a folder and try to move a file - and it is IN USE.

I HAVE discovered that if I can not move it with the MOVE TO button, I CAN left-click it, drag it to another folder, and select MOVE HERE. Then it moves no problem.

I can even move it BACK, and then use the MOVE TO button - and it errors AGAIN.

Dragging is OK, but I like to use the button because I move things a lot and it's just so much faster and easier.

I have no spyware or virus', according to Adaware, Spybot and Norton AV.

I've searched google, can't find it with my poor little brain.

Comments

  • kryystkryyst Ontario, Canada
    edited February 2005
    what sorts of files are you trying to move and what are you doing before hand. Some programs will hold a lock on the file for abit even after you've closed down the progam I've seen it last as long as a minute before.

    To check to see if something is actually just messed up though do a reboot and then try and move the file and see if it lets you. If you can then it's a file lock issue if not and you get the error then something is screwed. As to what I'm not sure I've never seen that exact sort of problem before.
  • HalOfBorgHalOfBorg West Virginia
    edited February 2005
    Movie files mostly. Futurama episodes, Blackadder. MPGs, AVIs, the odd MP3.

    I've not noticed it with Documents or Pictures, but I move few of those around.

    HalOfBorg wrote:
    I boot the computer, open a folder and try to move a file - and it is IN USE.
  • kryystkryyst Ontario, Canada
    edited February 2005
    If you've got media player (or whatever player you use) open just after you've watched that movie it'll still be locked.

    So for example typical scenario. DL a file play it to see if it's a keeper then try and move the file without closing the player it'll be locked. I find also Media Player tends to hold a lock for about 5-10 secs even after you've closed the program.

    I'd still recomend trying to do a move after you've rebooted and see if it's locked.
  • HalOfBorgHalOfBorg West Virginia
    edited February 2005
    Thanks, but I know these things.
    I have MediaPlayer 10, Irfanview, MediaPlayer Classic (K-Lite Codec Pack) and WinDVD 6.

    I use MediaPlayer 10 for most things, Irfanview for MP3s.

    You seem to be missing where I say that I BOOT THE COMPUTER, OPEN A FOLDER AND TRY TO MOVE A FILE. I also HAVE rebooted, as that IS the usual first or second thing to try for most Windows problems.

    I've done nothing else at this point.

    And I do wait for a while (seconds to a minute) after I play a file. Been there too often.
  • kryystkryyst Ontario, Canada
    edited February 2005
    Wasn't missing the point just clarrifying. But the rest of it doesn't make much sense it just seemed like a timing issue. Hmm wonder if it's maybe anti-virus software that's causing the issue. If it's scanning the file for move and isn't releasing the lock.
  • HalOfBorgHalOfBorg West Virginia
    edited February 2005
    I doubt it - but I DO have same version NAV on both machines........
  • ZuntarZuntar North Carolina Icrontian
    edited March 2005
    do you have any media players in the task bar or open at all?
  • HalOfBorgHalOfBorg West Virginia
    edited March 2005
    Zuntar wrote:
    do you have any media players in the task bar or open at all?

    No. I can play the file(s), close the player, go have lunch, nap, walk the dog, DL a NEW file, then try to use the MOVE TO button, and it says it is IN USE.

    However, DRAGGING the file to a different folder WORKS.

    OR - I can boot the PC, and RIGHT AWAY I am unable to use the MOVE TO button to do it.

    THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THAT WINDOWS IS NOT INFORMED - AT SOME LEVEL - THAT THE FILE IS NO LONGER IN USE. But it IS informed - at another level (?) - because I CAN drag it. :help:
  • kryystkryyst Ontario, Canada
    edited March 2005
    When you drag it is it moving it or copying it?
  • HalOfBorgHalOfBorg West Virginia
    edited March 2005
    kryyst wrote:
    When you drag it is it moving it or copying it?

    Either one works, but then you can COPY an in-use file as far as I know.
  • kryystkryyst Ontario, Canada
    edited March 2005
    Well yeah you can copy an in use file but what I'm getting at is if you move a file by dragging it, it does the copy first then deletes the file so if there is a file lock it'll move the file but won't delete it. Where as if you do the other move option it's actually issuing the move command so if the file is locked it won't work at all.
  • HalOfBorgHalOfBorg West Virginia
    edited March 2005
    OK. Cool - I'll check into that at home later today. :thumbsup:
  • HalOfBorgHalOfBorg West Virginia
    edited March 2005
    Grrrrrrrrrr. AS USUAL....when this thing gets a bug, and it learns I'm looking into it..... it starts acting better.

    Can't get the damn thing to do it at all now......

    Maybe those two DEFRAGS I did helped. Always helped 98se work better.
  • imported_oldtimerimported_oldtimer Mississauga,ON
    edited March 2005
    Where is this Move button ? I don't have one.
    Get 2xExplore for easy file movement and maybe forget MOVE.
    www.netez.com
  • HalOfBorgHalOfBorg West Virginia
    edited March 2005
    "View" - "Toolbars" - "Customize".

    You can add the MOVE and COPY buttons there.
  • kryystkryyst Ontario, Canada
    edited March 2005
    HalOfBorg wrote:
    Grrrrrrrrrr. AS USUAL....when this thing gets a bug, and it learns I'm looking into it..... it starts acting better.

    Can't get the damn thing to do it at all now......

    Maybe those two DEFRAGS I did helped. Always helped 98se work better.

    Welcome to my world, or rather the users I deal with at work. The invent all maner of problems (not saying you invented this one) but when I finally get around to coming over and investigating the problem they can never duplicate it for the life of them.

    In your case though it's quite possible the defrag helped. If your drive was badly fragmented it will take longer for the locks to release after you've tried to move a file.
  • imported_oldtimerimported_oldtimer Mississauga,ON
    edited March 2005
    HalOfBorg wrote:
    "View" - "Toolbars" - "Customize".

    You can add the MOVE and COPY buttons there.
    Thats another topic.Browser options.
    ===========================
    Aren't you asking about right clicking files.?
    :)
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