How can I find out who is using a "file in use"?

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My disk defrag from windows xp does not seem to working because I it says my hard drive is full. I dnt download music, movies etc just the internet.

Anyway I have reset the computer but it seems to develop another problem. it gives me some code like walpnil.exe. the computer is slower than ever. I notice this after yahoo messenger. Which i have taken off. However, it states when I try to defrag that I have no space (7%) when I need 15%. can you advise me.

Thanks for the info. Process xp does help, but doesn't close the handle even if forced. I tried deleting a few files which were showing error but it didn't. Same is the case with unlocker, mentioned by a reader earlier. Nothing happens when i click on unlock all. Plz tell something else.

A simple command line utility, also by the SysInternals.com folks, is Handles. Just type in
Handles {{filename_may_include_path}}
and it shows which process has the file open. Worked great for me on my local hard drive. Have not tried on a file located on a server.

(- Microsoft has bought SysInternals.com, so entering www.sysinternals.com or sister site www.wininternals.com will actually take you to Microsoft's site. -)

So far, this is a glorified task manager. This does not locate files, handles, dll or anything. I'm simply tring to find out what file is being used by what mysterious process - and this cannot locate it. I hope Microsoft didn't pay too much for this.

@ Matt
Then your doing it wrong, it works fine for me. I just used it to make cfp.exe stop using a folder so I could delete it. (cfp.exe is comodo firewall, btw).

To find out what file is being used by what, you simple go to find -> "Handle or DLL..." (or just hit CTRL+F), and then type in the file or folder you want to see and hit search.

It works fine for me. It really is not that complicated....

Thanks for the tool, but I really need it because when I attempt to download it, I've got a message telling the file already removed.

Can anyone provide me the specific file PLS ??

Thanks for the support..

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