# File is in use... By what?

**URL:** https://forum.kirupa.com/t/file-is-in-use-by-what/240369
**Category:** Uncategorized
**Created:** [October 2, 2007, 1:46pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/file-is-in-use-by-what/240369 "2007-10-02T13:46:18Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![BradLee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BradLee](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/BradLee)
#### Post date: [October 2, 2007, 1:46pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/file-is-in-use-by-what/240369/1 "2007-10-02T13:46:18Z")

</div>

Do any of you guys know of any programs or methods of figuring out what programs/processes are currently using a file/folder, preventing me from renaming or deleting it?

My stupid laptop has been doing that to folders for no apparent reason. I’ve been looking for viruses/spyware and I’ve checked the processes list but I don’t see any likely culprits.

It’s really rather annoying. I have to restart my computer to be able to rename or delete the files.

The OS is Windows XP SP2… Any ideas?