Download Free File Unlocker from the following link:

When you see any of the error messages below, this is when you can use Free File Unlocker to gain access to files and make the desired modifications. Free File Unlocker is intended for advanced users. These error messages are specified on the readme.txt file that opens after you install the utility.

• Cannot delete folder: It is being used by another person or program
• Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is not currently in use
• Cannot delete file: Access is denied
• The file is in use by another program or user
• There has been a sharing violation
• The source or destination file may be in use
• Cannot read from the source file or disk

Please note that we have reviewed comparable programs in the past, including IOBit Unlocker and the mother of it all Unlocker.

You will see the Locked File / Directory bar at the top of the user interface where you can specify the path for the Locked file or folder. Click the Select button to the left of the path field to choose between File or Directory and All Locked Files or Directories. The details will appear in the main field of the interface.

Select the file that needs to be unlocked and click Unlock in the right pane. If you want to unlock all locked files or directories, click Select and choose All Locked Files or Directories and then click Unlock All. You can also use the right-click context menu to unlock specific files without even using the main interface, as the option is integrated into the Windows context menu.

It is important to note that files are locked by Windows for a reason; otherwise it would not be a standard Windows default. You should have a complete understanding of the effects that unlocking a file will ultimately yield. This means Free File Unlocker is intended for advanced users and should not be used frivolously. The only time it is reasonable to use this utility is when user-initiated services and applications are blocking access to files and folders. You should not use the “Unlock All” option unless you are an advanced user and understand the implications. It was only mentioned in this article to give you an idea of the scope of options that this utility offers.

For some files, the situation is easy to resolve. A video file for instance that is still playing in a video player cannot be deleted before the player is closed. It happens sometimes that files are locked by Windows even if you cannot find another program or person that’s accessing them at the moment.

Tools like IOBit Unlocker, or the most popular “cannot delete” files” tool Unlocker, can usually resolve the situation. They unlock the file so that it can be removed from the system after all.

IOBit Unlocker has been released as a free beta version. The program adds an entry to the Windows Explorer context menu during installation that can be used to send file information to the unlocker. Files can also be added via drag and drop directly.

The program window displays the selected files and folders in the upper half of the program window. Each item is listed with its name and status that indicates whether it is currently locked or unlocked.

The processes that use the file are listed in the lower half along with their file name, path and process ID.

IOBit Unlocker offers two unlocking modes. The first is activated with a click on the Unlock button. The program tries to unlock the selected files. The small arrow next to the button contains options to perform a second operation, like delete or copy after the items have been unlocked.

The forced mode checkbox has been added if the standard file unlocking fails. All processes that lock selected files will be terminated if the option is selected.

How sophisticated is the beta version of IOBit Unlocker? It lacks some of the features of Unlocker, for instance the ability to delete files on the next system restart if they cannot be unlocked in the current session. For now, it is a solid alternative that lacks features. It will be interesting to see if the developers add the missing features in the final release of the application.

Interested Windows users can download IOBit Unlocker from the developer website. The program is compatible with 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the Microsoft Windows operating system. (via)

This is fantastic news as many commentators, no myself I might add, are saying that this platform will live or die on the number and quality of its apps, just as iOS and Google Android will.  I’m not one of those people because these commentators, who are all techies let’s face it, are overlooking the glaringly obvious fact that people need a mobile phone first.  Even if the iPhone, Android and Windows Phone handsets had no apps AT ALL, people would still buy them in great numbers.  On this score I personally believe, because I’ve used all three, that for casual mobile phone users Windows Phone has the edge over the competition.  I’ve been made to eat my words before though, so we’ll see how it goes over the next year or so.

In other Windows Phone news, tech blogger and author Raphael Rivera and Chris Walsh have released the first unlocker for the platform, which if you’re so inclined you can download here.  While the idea of an unlocked mobile OS is a tempting one for some power users who want to be able to install whatever apps they want on the device, I wouldn’t recommend that anybody actually unlock their phone, be it a Windows Phone or an iPhone, at all.

The reason for this is that an unlocked phone is an insecure phone that is vulnerable to all types of malware.  We’ve already seen examples of this on the iPhone and criminals will be sure to quickly take advantage of this new gap in Windows Phone’s security.

The other reason is simply that you’ll invalidate your warranty on the device so if it breaks during the first year or so you could be faced with a $500 charge for a replacement.  Like I say, be very careful before choosing to unlock your phone.

This alone can be problematic if the file is not in use anymore. That’s where a program like Unlocker aids the user. It breaks all links that Windows might have with the file or folder so that the deletion succeeds.

Unlocker was up until now only available as a 32-bit program. The developer updated the program yesterday adding signed 64-bit support to it.

Now 64-bit Windows users can install and use Unlocker just like 32-bit users. Several additional changes and improvements have been made in the release.

The program’s behavior has been improved, especially on 32-bit systems where false positive handling was improved so that false positives will no be detected anymore, ever.

Veteran users will notice the addition of promotional features during installation. Unlocker offers the Bing Toolbar, automatically selected during installation to the user.

unlocker 64-bit

A 30-second timer is displayed if the Bing Toolbar is unselected in the installation menu, not a nice trait of the program.

The program tries to place an eBay shortcut on the desktop as well, which can be unchecked, thankfully without another countdown before the installation proceeds.

Unlocker is still the number one choice for handling locked files and folders in Windows. The installation is a one-time process, the timer on the other hand should better be removed from the installation. Users who make the deliberate choice to skip the Bing Toolbar installation should not be punished by a timer for that.

Unlocker is available at the developer’s website.

The biggest change in Unlocker 1.8.9 is support for the Windows 7 operating system and the intention to make Unlocker work on 64-bit systems as well. The developer has a working test version and alpha versions but needs to get the “driver signed” before the 64-bit edition of Unlocker can be released to the public.

The full list of changes is listed below:

Fixed bug: Handles should not be missing anymore on Windows7.
- Fixed bug: Potential conflict with regular explorer use when opening multiple files or other shell extensions such as 7-zip.
- Fixed bug: UI should now appear properly when done from clean install.
- Fixed bug: No hangs due to looping junctions should happen anymore.
- Fixed bug: Deleting junctions will not erase original files anymore.
- Fixed bug: Managing your computer on Windows 7 will not crash anymore.
- Fixed bug: Bitmap handles should not leak anymore from the shell extension.
- Fixed bug: Many other potential sources of bugs and crashes.
- Improved behavior: When deleting files they will be sent first to the recycle bin if possible, only if not possible more abrasive deletion will be used.
- Improved behavior: Unlocker can be started directly from the start menu to browse to the desired file or folder.
- Promotional feature: Added fully optional shortcuts to eBay during the installation. Simply untick “eBay shortcuts” in the choose components page during install if you do not wish to have those.

The new software version basically fixes several bugs and improves support for the Windows 7 operating system. Unlocker is still offered as a portable version and installer which are both offered at the developer’s website.

The new version integrates an eBay shortcut into the installation process, users who do not want to install that can unselect the option during installation.

The latest version of Unlocker can be downloaded from here. The new Unlocker homepage is available here.

But there are also situations where it is not as easy. Situations where the file operation cannot be executed even if there is no visible process locking that file. That’s when programs like FileAssassin or the previously reviewed Unlocker come into play.

FileAssassin can be downloaded as a portable version or as an installer. The installer integrates the options into the right-click menu in Windows Explorer so that selected files and folders can be unlocked easily. The portable version does not add those entries and can only be used from within the interface therefor.

Files and folders can be dragged and dropped into the interface or loaded by using the file browser. FileAssassin will then try several methods of unlocking the file so that it can be modified or deleted. The software in particular will

• unlock locked file handles
• unload modules
• terminate the file’s process

It is optionally possible to delete the file. If the delete option is not selected FileAssassin will try to unlock the file only.

FileAssassin is a good alternative to everybody’s favorite file unlocker Unlocker. It can be downloaded from the software’s project site over at the Malwarebytes website. The program is compatible with most versions of the Windows operating system including Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7.

It integrates itself in the right-click context menu just like Unlocker does. Like Unlocker LockHunter becomes only active when the user right-clicks an item and selects the What is locking this file / folder option from the menu.

LockHunter will then display the path of the file and folder plus the processes that are locking the file.

Each process is listed by name and file path with the option to display additional information by clicking on the plus sign in the front.

The three buttons at the bottom of the interface provide the means to unlock the selected file or folder, delete it right away or to close or delete the process that is locking the file or folder on the computer system.

Options to unlock, close or delete the selected process become also available after right-clicking on them in the main window of the application. The main difference to Unlocker are the 64-bit support of the file unlocker and the amount of information that are displayed in the LockHunter interface.

File And Folder Unlocker is basically a similar application. It does however work in a different way.The software can be started manually by double-clicking its program file. It does integrate itself into the right-click menu as well but behaves differently than Unlocker does. The portable software will list all running processes on the computer system and a search box that can be used to search for specific processes, files or folders. The search box will be automatically filled with information if the software has been integrated into the right-click menu. An alternative to listing open objects is to double-click any process to list all of its open objects in the second box in the interface.

All objects will be listed including their location on the computer system, their owner and handle / offset. File And Folder Unlocker is definitely not as handy as using Unlocker when it comes to specific files or folders that are locked by the computer system. It does however provide extensive information that Unlocker does not provide.

This can be useful to analyze the current situation in depth. Might for example be useful if a file, process or folder is locked every time the system is shutdown. This program can help the user find out why it is locked while Unlocker would only be able to unlock it so that the computer system could be shutdown. The list of open objects can be exported for further analysis.

It can also deal with all of the following situations:

• Access denied.
• The file is in use by another program or user.
• The source or destination file may be in use.
• Cannot delete file: It is being used by another person or program.
• Cannot delete Folder: It is being used by another person or program.
• The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process.
• There has been a sharing violation.
• Close any programs that might be using the file and try again.
• Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is not currently in use.

File And Folder Unlocker is a 36 Kilobyte freeware that is compatible with Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

Unlocker is freeware and adds a right-click menu entry called Unlocker after installation. If you encounter a file or folder that can’t be deleted use unlocker to either kill the process or unlock the file so that the deletion can commence.

I know that I already wrote about Unlocker before but a new version was released two days ago which corrects some bugs and adds another language to the program. Here is the complete changelog:

• New language: Belarusian thanks to Aleg Azarousky
• New feature: Access to Delete / Rename / Move options from command line
• Improved behavior: Power users do not need rights to modify registry anymore to run Unlocker as long as Unlocker was installed by an administrator on the machine
• Fixed bug: Renaming now works again.
• Fixed bug: Renaming and Moving on boot now work again.

Other error messages where Unlocker is able to help with.

• Cannot delete file: Access is denied
• There has been a sharing violation.
• The source or destination file may be in use.
• The file is in use by another program or user.
• Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is not currently in use.

You see, it might be a good idea to install the program and have it at hand because those errors seem to happen frequently on Windows.

You can download the program from the new homepage of the developer.

It can happen however that a file remains locked even after the process or application has been closed, or so you think at least. That’s where a program like Unlocker from Cedric Collomb can help you. It can remove the lock in most situations so that files, folders and programs can be deleted without error messages in Windows.

Have you ever received on of the following messages while trying to delete a file or folder from your hard drive using a Windows operation system?

• Cannot delete file: Access is denied
• There has been a sharing violation.
• The source or destination file may be in use.
• The file is in use by another program or user. Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is not currently in use

Everyone gets these error messages from time to time. I hereby present you a tool that “unlocks” the file and lets you delete it afterwards with just a few simple clicks.

The program “Unlocker” is freeware and spyware clear, size is only 76k. Simply install it, then you have a new entry in the right click context menu called unlocker. The procedure would be to right click the folder or file you can´t delete, selecting unlocker, choosing unlock all and then to delete the file or folder with the delete key for instance.

You can download the tool at the authors homepage http://www.emptyloop.com/unlocker/

The file unlocker has been updated a lot in recent years, and it is now capable of more than just making files and folders deletable again under Windows. It can now delete files and folders if the path is to long for instance. It is also offered as a 32-bit and 64-bit version.