back in the XP days, I used a software called "Unlocker" just for this problem. It probably still exists, I don't know, because since Windows 7, the easiest way to find out what process locks a file is to open Resource Monitor (Start search: resmon) and on the CPU tab, using the "Associated handles" list, you can search for the file name and see the process in question (and kill it).

So yeah, Resource Monitor is a useful tool on Windows.

[–] rockerface@lemmy.cafe 48 points 2 months ago (19 children)

There's a collection of free little utilities called Microsoft PowerToys, including the file unlocker thing. Why would they not include these into base kit Windows is beyond me.

[–] kuneho@lemmy.world 10 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Why would they not include these into base kit Windows is beyond me.

Some of them felt a bit buggy when I last time used Windows, maybe they aren't fully ready to ship (like Samsung's Good Lock apps?). And most features didn't do quite what I imagined it to do, but that's probably a "me problem".

[–] rockerface@lemmy.cafe 8 points 2 months ago (1 children)

That's a fair point, but, let's be honest, the built in Windows features often have the same issues

[–] DeathsEmbrace@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Not recently copilot and AI implementation has made the OS beyond shitty recently and a lot of broken shit. That's why I need to move to Linux they're basically sinking their ship with broken AI code.

[–] BilSabab@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

The telemetry is overbearing too lately.

[–] DeathsEmbrace@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Bill Gates secret hotline.

[–] BilSabab@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

probably.

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