Windows XP forum: error deleting file or folder. It is being used by another..

Check in user accounts to see if your an administrator.

You can kill these processes in task manager. See the help in task manager.

Run disk check and if you don't have it down load registry repair software. Run both.

See link:

http://www.download.com/3120-20_4-0.html?sort=rating&tg=dl-20&qt=registry+repair&tag=srt.er

Some is free, some is not free, some are free trials only. If it says "buy" in the right column then it costs money.

1. By default [Q265216], folders appear in Windows as folder icons or as pictures that are contained in the folder. (When folders appear as pictures, you are viewing them in "Thumbnails" view.) When Microsoft Windows XP opens a folder for the first time, Windows uses a default template to display the folder contents and to view the settings based on the location of the folder, the number of files in the folder and the proportion of special file types in the folder. If Image Preview gives you a hard time when deleting pictures (such as the below error message), on the Tools menu, click Folder Options and on the General tab, click the "Use Windows classic folders" option (screenshot), click Apply and then click OK. Afterwards, you can readjust the setting as you want.

Cannot delete Filename. Access is denied. The source file may be in use.

2. The Windows Recovery Console can be used to obtain limited access to NTFS, FAT, and FAT32 volumes without starting Windows, [Q314058]. Please also read, "HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console in Windows XP (Q307654)."

3. Otherwise, please read Doug Knox's tip, "How do I delete an "undeletable" file?"

4. The article [Q320081] explains that you may not be able to delete a file if the file is being used and the symptoms may vary. You may be able to use the delete command to delete a file but the file is not actually deleted until the process that has the file open releases the file. Additionally, you may not be able to access the Security dialog box for a file that is pending deletion. To determine what process may have a file open, "Q242131 - Display a List of Processes That Have Files Open."

5. Supplemental reading:

a. "HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP (Q308421)."

b. "HOW TO: Set, View, Change, or Remove File and Folder Permissions (Q308418)."

c. "HOW TO: Disable Simplified Sharing and Password-Protect a Shared Folder in Windows XP (Q307874)."