Question

Problem deleting/moving large video files (XP Pro)

Asked by: xlarbarx

Usually it occurs with large video files, around 200 MB+ and usually divx encoded; file types vary but they are usually avi. I try to delete/move a video file using various methods (File/Folder tasks, right clicking, dragging to recycle bin, etc). After I've confirmed that I want it sent to the recycle bin, an error message pops up saying that another program/person is using it. But there isn't. Very odd. This will happen even after the preview of the video file has appeared in the common tasks pane.

Anyway, after this has happened once, the CPU usage for explorer.exe flies up to around 85%+ for an indefinite amount of time, effectively making even simple tasks such as switching windows extremely time-consuming.

Anyone also have any experience with this problem or know any work-arounds or fixes? Thanks

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Asked On
2003-01-27 at 13:01:12ID20484412
Tags

deleting

,

error

,

files

,

moving

,

video

Topic

Windows XP Operating System

Participating Experts
5
Points
250
Comments
12

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Answers

 

by: CrazyOnePosted on 2003-01-27 at 13:09:34ID: 7825199

Don't use Explore to delete the file. It is probably doing a preview and that locks the file. Next time try this. Don't open Explorer. but

Start > Run cmd

MOVE TheDrive:\The Folder\The file TheDrive:\Recycled


The Crazy One

 

by: guidwayPosted on 2003-01-27 at 13:09:58ID: 7825201

I've seen this before (at least twice) here is what is happening and how to fix it:

"The fix for Windows XP not letting you delete .avi I've seen this coming up more and more all over the place so I figured I'd stick it here. Avi files (divx) can be trouble in xp. there is a fix to let xp behave much better so it's possible to move or delete large avi files. The obnoxious bug in XP that causes Explorer to read the entire contents of broken AVI files before allowing any access to them is caused by bad behavior of shmedia.dll.

To correct this misbehavior in Windows XP, remove the following registry key. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREClassesCLSID{87D62D94-71B3-4b9a-9489-5FE6850DC73E}InProcServer32 This will prevent Explorer from loading shmedia.dll in response to file property queries on these files. Just an extra note, if you do a "search" for this key it will not be found, look for it manually it is very easy to find."

Backup your registry before you start playing around with it though. Hope this helps!

 

by: CrazyOnePosted on 2003-01-27 at 13:10:33ID: 7825204

Or if you want to just delete it then

Start > Run cmd

DEL TheDrive:\The Folder\The file TheDrive:\Recycled

 

by: tomas_mPosted on 2003-01-27 at 15:56:01ID: 7825716

I've had the same problem.
Open Regedit. Navigate to

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.avi\shellex\PropertyHandler]

delete the value within it (should look like this{87D62D94-71B3-4b9a-9489-5FE6850DC73E}). reboot. thats it. now windows won't look into .avi files for details, like bitrate, resolution, etc. so the file won't be 'locked' if it is corrupted.

 

by: Crash2100Posted on 2003-01-27 at 16:47:35ID: 7826083

When you try to delete the file, you could try perminently deleting the file rather than just putting it in the recycle bin by holding down shift when you press delete.

You could also try running check disk:
chkdsk c: /f

 

by: CrazyOnePosted on 2003-01-27 at 16:51:10ID: 7826112

A freind of mine indicated the following to me.

"The problem w/ the broken avi is no index file to read – which makes it read from start to end so then by clicking in explorer you open the preview or the thumbnail – so then you might also have to attrib –s –h –r filename.avi from the command prompt"

 

by: doubloshoePosted on 2003-01-27 at 17:44:40ID: 7826434

This may sound weird but open up notepad then go to file>open. From the dropdown menu "File Types" select all,
then navigate to the file and delete it from there.
This is if you dont wanna touch the registry.

 

by: CrazyOnePosted on 2003-01-27 at 18:10:26ID: 7826583

Yeah that might work and if the file is not broken just delete it from within Widows Media Player when you go to open it.

 

by: xlarbarxPosted on 2003-01-27 at 18:24:24ID: 7826671

Great fix, pretty much exactly what I was looking for. I have tested this method a few times and it seems to work perfectly. Any side effects from deleting this regkey that you know about?

 

by: guidwayPosted on 2003-01-27 at 18:32:47ID: 7826714

As far as I know there is no side effects of it. Except that I don't think media files will be able to play at all through the explorer pane. You will have to open them up in another utility.

 

by: xlarbarxPosted on 2003-01-27 at 20:17:22ID: 7827193

Media files open up fine through explorer. No side effects so far.

 

by: xlarbarxPosted on 2003-01-27 at 20:32:08ID: 7827244

Media files open up fine through explorer. No side effects so far.

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