Can’t Delete Exe Files from Desktop
While you are trying to delete .exe files from the desktop you get a message saying: Cannot delete file: cannot read from the source file or disk (Windows XP) or File in use: The action can’t be completed because the file is open in another program (Windows Vista).
In most cases this is caused by explorer.exe, which is accessing to this file. You can kill explorer.exe via task manager (CTRL+ALT+DELETE). Note: your desktop will go blank. While explorer.exe is not running you can delete your file accessing it via task manager. To run it again, simply press Windows button (keyboard) + R, type explorer.exe and hit enter.
If method described above won’t work probably means that some 3rd party program is using exact .exe file you trying to remove.
In this case you can simply use a tool called Unlocker, which can be downloaded from our site:
Unlocker (210.6 KiB, 872 downloads)
Registry Easy
(3.8 MB, 6,494 downloads)
I didn’t try first method, but I can tell that I managed to delete file in use easily by using this tool.
Thanks!
I am glad you described this method, I finally managed to delete those .exe files from desktop.
I am glad you described right way to get ride of this file in use message!
thanks.. tool did the trick
cool.. you saved me of troubles.. I hope the .exe file I was trying to delete wasn’t a virus
I’ve been having this Cannot Delete .Exe File for quite sometime, tried a few ways still couldn’t solve it until today I got your UNLOCKER downloaded to my laptop & my problem’s gone! Thank You Very Much :) Keep Up The Splendid Job Guys