WhoLockMe is a freeware Windows Explorer shell extension that will tell you what processes are locking a file. You can then attempt to stop the processes, making it possible to delete or move the file.

I work with large PhotoShop® files and from time to time I am unable to delete or move a file, because another program is accessing it. But all my programs are closed! In the past I would restart my computer and see if that would work. Nope! What to do now?

This is where WhoLockMe is one of the greatest little programs ever invented.

This freeware is a beta version. It doesn’t work on Win9x or Me. It does however work great with XP.

To download this freeware
WhoLockMe104.zip
(22KB)

WhoLockMe v1.0.1

Installation :

  • Unzip WhoLockMe.zip
  • Copy “WhoLockMe.dll”, “WhoLockMe.exe”, “Install.bat” and “Uninstall.bat” in a directory. (for example : c:\Program Files\WhoLockMe)
  • Double-Click on “Install.bat”

How to use :

  • Once you have installed WhoLockMe, all you need to do is right click on the locked file, scroll down to and select Who Lock Me?.
  • A window should open up with the file information and which program is accessing the file.
  • Select the file info and hit the “kill process” button.
  • Finally, a window will pop-up that asks if you are sure you want to kill the process — you say “heck ya I do!”
  • You should now be able to delete or move the file : )

I have used this little Tip more times than I ever thought I would have. This tip could also be quite useful in fighting persistent spyware.

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