A strange bug in Windows XP home edition: I don't remember when it started, so I cannot tell which installed program/fix/update/registry patch caused it, but whenever I delete a file, or move it to another directory/drive, it disappears from the list, the space is not reclaimed. It takes a reboot to free up the space and make the file disappear. Of course I emptied the recycle bin, but it doesn't help. Furthermore, in about 80% of the cases, the file name keeps appearing, and the only way to get rid of it is to use a program like "unblocker" to free the file of all the programs which might "hold" it (in fact, it is always, and only, EXPLORER.EXE), and even then I have to wait for a reboot to free up the space. anyone else expreienced it? found a solution?
Sounds vaguely familiar... Do you happen to use Norton? I think it has something to do with it.
Hi,
Thanks for the reply, but I don't have any Norton product currently installed. I had Norton Internet Security 2005, but I uninstalled it and have been using Mcafee's software for Antivirus and Firewall. Don't recall when this bug first appeared, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't related to the Norton uninstall or Mcafee install.
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Does it happens on files from the same type, mainly, video or sound files?
When you uninstalled Norton, did you make sure it uninstalled the Norton Unerase (or whatever it is called). Norton has this improved recycle bin that is not always gets uninstalled when you uninstall the rest of the Norton products.
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I realise the post is old, but for future reference:
I experience the same problem. A work around I have found (in place of rebooting) and this is not ideal but certainly quicker.....
Be warned though ....close any open/unsaved work before doing this!!!!
Open task manager, go to processes tab and finder explorer in the list. When you find it, right click on the line and select end process tree, this will effectively close all running programs and give you a blank desktop.
Then still in task manager, go to applications tab, select new task button and type explorer in to the pop-up window. This will start a new fresh explorer session.
Obviously the first step kills the program (process) that has the file locked and the space will be reclaimed imediately.
I am yet to find out which program/process is locking the files, as the strange this is that I try to move files that I have not used for a few days, yet the program that created the file (Digital TV card and Compro software) has since been shutdown.
This also happens to files generated by different applications - eg: windows movie maker, pocketDVD, so there appears to be a common thread around movie files. The other strange thing is that the files could be mpg, avi, divx etc so it is not necessarily a single codec.
I am on SP2, not using nortons and on a lan. I might turn of AV and other tools for a few days to see if problem is replicated.
An early thought was maybe the Logitech wireless keyboard and mouse (where the F-keys can be remapped), but this is unlikely, but I would often use the F5 key to force a refresh - and the F5 key also doubles up as an UNDO if the F-Lock feature is turned on. But if I delete via toolbar or don't force a refresh I can still get the same problem.
Does anyone else have further suggestions or similar problems that may shed some light on this.
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