Windows XP file explorer locks multiple processes and stops responding when trying to delete files.
This has been on ongoing problem for me with XP since its first installation. I have tried every obvious solution that I am aware of with no success.
1. Safe mode.
2. Changing msconfig for selective startup.
3. Uninstallation of unneeded applications.
4. Disabling services that are using network resources.
5. Disabling firewall and anti-virus processes.
6. All system components are fully updated.
7. Full system wipe and OS re-install.
This happens on three different systems running XP Pro SP2 so I am confident this is not hardware related.
Windows explorer.exe locks files and I am unable to modify them without stopping explorer.exe at the Task Manager and using the command line to make file changes. This is hideously inefficient. I am using freeware app WhoLockMe.exe to see that it is always Explorer.exe that has locked one (or more) processes on the files. Frequently this happens to a single file in a directory containing multiple files. It may have as many as 5 PID’s locked by explorer.exe.
