question: program file access windows 98se vs XP

[whistleclient]

I have a program that backups up all my files to a USB hard drive every so often, but I get errors when trying to backup certain Outlook Express files because it says something along the lines of "file in use by another program". If I switch from 98SE to XP would this be a problem.? Not sure how XP differs in this category.

 

[Lord Evermore]

What files? Are you closing Outlook Express before you run the backup? A different OS won't necessarily fix it, if a program has a file open, the backup app won't back it up.

 

[whistleclient]

it's files like "sent item.dbx" etc, which is odd because i am closing/exiting outlook express before i run it.

i think it may have something to do with msn messenger-- which is integrated into outlook express-- but once i've run it once i can only logoff from messenger, not completely exit from the program (it leaves a tray icon and says other programs are using it)

 

[Lord Evermore]

Yeah, that's most likely it. Messenger is probably keeping those files open in order to check mail for you, and send emails to users on your contact list.

If you can disable the mail functions of Messenger, that will probably make it close the files. Or you should be able to actually close the program. I don't know what other programs would be using Messenger, so right clicking the icon and exiting should end it. Or you can use Task Manager to kill the process.