“Cannot delete (filename or foldername): Access is denied. Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is not currently in use”
Familiar with the error status window above? It usually pops up when you:
- Cannot delete a folder or cannot delete a file
- Cannot rename a folder or cannot rename a file
Basically it happens because another process/program is currently accessing a file (and locks it). So unless you exit the application first, you won’t be able to do any changes to that file from anywhere outside of the application. At times, however, that is still not the case. Often you find that you still can’t make any modification to the file even though the application opening it has already been closed.
With the help of a free windows unlocking tool, this annoying problem is history.
The unlocking tool is called Unlocker. It has been around for years but I never publish a post about the tool yet on this blog.
After you install Unlocker, you can right click a locked file on Windows Explorer and click on the “Unlocker” menu to access Unlocker. The Unlocker main window looks like:
It will tell you which application is currently locking the file, which is extremely useful. If you are sure that you have already close the file, then you can use Unlocker to either kill the process/application or use the “Unlock” magic button.
Unlocker gives you the power to unlock and delete locked files/folders in Windows (previously you have to restart windows to unlock the file/folder, which is quite annoying!). It’s free, it’s simple, and it works 
Visit Unlocker official site to download.
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
WoW thank you for posting this as I am currently having this same very problem with one of my laptop.
Salwa´s last blog post..Five Things You Should Know Before You Start Blogging
“Often you find that you still can’t make any modification to the file even though the application opening it has already been closed.”
Oh yes.. It’s so frustrating. I’ll need to restart the comp to delete it immediately.
Now, this Unlocker sounds so helpful.
Wiehanne´s last blog post..Rant of upcoming election – 9th April
On one of my computer there is this folder “shanker Bakshi” which am unable to delete or open. let me see if i can unlock that now.
Shanker Bakshi´s last blog post..TinEye – Search Engine for Duplicate Images
I have used this nifty tool for quite some time and definitely a must have application on every windows.
Steve Yu´s last blog post..My Tech Quest Turned 1 Yesterday!
Certainly this tool is one of the best in this category. I tried some tools like Killbox for deleting a folder named autorun.inf created by flashdisinfector from all of my drives, but failed. Unloacker instantly removed it. Thanks for this post.
unlocker is a very nice program…very useful !
My Life For Hire´s last blog post..Are you succesful in trading?
I have had this program a while, and it has saved me a lot of trouble.
Megaphase.info´s last blog post..Displaying recent Entrecard droppers as HTML using PHP
superb tool.. 1 suggestion..
the post title can be something else meaningful as it would help people who search in google
Quakeboy´s last blog post..Create your own Super Hero !
Thanks Quakeboy. Well I use one of the SEO plug-in so you’ll see a catchy title on my blog, but the title will be displayed something else on search engines
This way I can attract more attention with a catchy title (at least I’m trying to)
Please share that plugin Sir Michael. I wanna know it. Sounds like so useful to me.
Ron
Tnomeralc Web Design Toys´s last blog post..Tejeros Convention In General Trias
This is a great tool… Good find…
WIll use this…
Nihar´s last blog post..Demonoid Private Torrent Tracker – Registrations are open!!
thanks buddy. i just really hate this message. its too irritating message for me. u have solved my problem.
m getting irritate and bother by this type of message you solved huge problem, would much helpful to maximum people.