Trouble deleting file

[UDChoad]

I have an AVI file that I cannot delete because it is being used by another process. the odd thing is that when i click on the file even if it's not even to open it, as soon as i do the explorer process begins using upwards of 95% of the CPU and a large chunk of memory. it won't stop unless i reboot my computer, and as soon as i so much as select the file again it will happen. I have tried booting in safe mode and then deleting the file but the same thing happened. no applications are running in the background. I'm using Windows XP with all the most current updates.

 

[sundril]

check this page (most things in the bottom section of the page): http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/WinXP/Q_20775373.html

 

[sundril]

check this page (most things in the bottom section of the page): http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/WinXP/Q_20775373.html

 

[Slikkster]

Use the tip on the previous poster's link regarding stopping the Explorer process.
That should do it.
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Bottom line is that the Explorer process is locking this file, so you need to halt that
process first. If you follow the directions above and have a command prompt open
to the folder where the offending file is, by stopping the Explorer process you'll have
a chance to safely delete the file. Worth a shot.