How to Delete Locked Files or Folders

Have you encountered any of the following errors when you try to delete some files in Windows XP?

Cannot delete file: the file is in use by the other program.

Cannot delete file: There has been a sharing violation.

Cannot delete file: The file is in use by another program or user.

Cannot delete file: Check whether Disk is full or write-protected and that the file is not currently in use.

Cannot delete file: The source or destination file may be in use.

Cannot delete folder: It is being used by another person or program. Close any programs that might be using it and try again.

I am sure you must have encountered such problems and you generally chose to either leave the file as it is or restart the computer and then navigate to that file or folder and then delete. Both the conditions are annoying as you do want that file to be on your computer anymore. The second alternative is extremely time consuming. And so you have reached here searching for the solution to it and I assure you that you will not have to look at any other place on Internet to search the solution again.

A freeware tool is available on Internet to solve this problem out. The name of that tool is Unlocker. You can download this tool from its official website which can be found through a simple search on Google.

Just download it and install it. Now navigate to the file or the folder that you want to delete and then right-click it and select unlocker from the context menu that appears. Now if your file or folder is locked by default or by some virus or a software then a screen showing that will appear.

There you will see the listing of the software is currently using the folder or a file.Sometimes they are common applications and sometimes it is a system process that is using that file to allow a smooth functioning of the Operating System. If you are an experienced Windows XP user then you can click on the individual entry in the window to be unlocked. But if you are not then do not worry. Just click on the "Unlock All" button and you will then be able to delete that file or the folder without you requiring to restart your system.