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Touching a .mov file locks handle in explorer.exe

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3 replies

by obfuscated

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Aug 2009: Using Windows Explorer on a WinXP Pro SP3 machine with QuickTime 7.6.2 (515), merely attempting to renamed a .MOV file causes Explorer.exe to lock (handle) the file (says it's IN USE). Nothing seems to release the lock, except for using Task Manager or Process Explorer or CMD Prompt to run "taskkill /IM /F explorer.exe" to terminate Windows Explorer.

This is horrible. I've seen many posts throughout the various online forums regarding this issue ... but all are lacking a true resolve.

I think it may have something to do with Windows trying to update the THUMBS.DB file. I would prefer *not* to disable that feature, although I know it's possible to do so.

Any thoughts?

3 replies

by loopster305

I have the same problem. I can not move, edit, rename MOV files. I have to use Unlocker to unlock while trying to rename, edit, or move the file. After doing the task, explore relocks the file immediately.

I can only do this one file at a time.

I have come across a better work around, but still not a solution.

I use xplorer2 Lite. I open this explorer, then (use task manager) kill explorer.exe (which releases my files). I can then use xplorer2 to move around my files just as I wish I could with Windows Explorer.
Still not a solution, but it beats doing it one file at a time using unlocker.

If you find a solution, please let me know as I will too.

by seanferd

This is a long-time known issue, especially with large AVI files, and other video files as well. Windows scans the entire file when thumbnail view is engaged, and it is probably doing this for all files in the directory, so the files will be in use. this has also been known to freeze or crash the system.

I don't know if this still occurs in Vista and Win 7 or not.

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