Question

CopyFileEx Failing "Process cannot access the file because it is used by another..."

Asked by: mjgardne

Hello,

I have written a method that uses CopyFileEx to copy files.  It is working great except when I receive Access Denied errors on some files, so I've attached some exception handling to my copying method.  When Access Denied is detected, I call another method to take ownership of the file and replace its DACL with one that permits Adminstrators to have Full Control.  When I call this take ownership method on a file and then examine the file's security via Windows Explorer, it is proper.  Now, here is the strange thing...

In my code, after CopyFileEx fails due to an Access Denied error, I take ownership of the file and call CopyFileEx again.  But, it fails with Win32 error 0x20, "The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process."  I am the only process using the file.  I've closed all handles properly...  I am at a loss as to why it won't let me copy it.  Does CopyFileEx keep its handle open when it failes to copy a file?  My development  computer is running Vista Ultimate.  I am using VS2008 Pro.  I am running VS2008 elevated.

I've scoured my books and the Internet, but I have not seen anyone doing what I am doing.  Anyway, I hope that someone can give me a nudge to get things working correctly.

Thanks,

Mike

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Asked On
2009-10-03 at 22:01:41ID24783249
Tags

CopyFileEx Win32 API CopyFile

Topics

Windows ATL / WTL / COM Programming

,

Microsoft Visual C++

,

Microsoft Visual C++.Net

Participating Experts
2
Points
250
Comments
3

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Answers

 

by: AndyAinscowPosted on 2009-10-04 at 01:02:17ID: 25488504

Are you certain you are the only user?
For instance my system at times won't let me copy mdf files with the same error message.  The mdf file is a SQL Server database file - obviously housekeeping is in progress even if no user is accessing the database.

 

by: mjgardnePosted on 2009-10-04 at 15:40:39ID: 25491399

Yup... I am the only user and the file exists on a drive of test data...  I figured out the issue, kind of...  I found that rebooting my development computer eliminated the issue, so it may have been a debugging reminant...  *blush*!!!  What can I say....  It was r-e-a-l-l-y late at night!

Thanks for the idea, Andy.

Mike

 

by: itsmeandnobodyelsePosted on 2009-10-05 at 03:57:33ID: 25494024

>>>> I found that rebooting my development computer eliminated the issue, so it may have been a debugging reminant...  *blush*!!!  

As told by Andy, it is not quite unusual that Windows or applications keep a handle on a file or folder so that deleting or taking ownership will not work. If you are the only user on the mahine and don't have started too many progs, the issue may not occur. Also closing all open programs (especially explorer, IDE, or command window) often do clear the problem, but not always in my experience.

So, I would recommend to solve the problem not after the copying failed but by making sure that the files to copy could be accessed without access problems.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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