With Windows, when a file is used by a process or if it is open by some program, it cannot be renamed, deleted or moved . When a file is in use, it is blocked by the system ; for example, you can try to rename a document while it is open with Worde and verify that it is impossible.
System stability is thus guaranteed and it becomes impossible to delete a Windows system file or replace it with another; therefore manual damage cannot be done by making the computer unusable by mistake.
The bad news, however, is that if a virus enters the computer and infects some files, they could be blocked because they are used by the malware program which remains hidden and makes it difficult to remove.
In general, for any reason you should encounter a locked file that cannot be deleted, to carry out its removal or to move or rename it, you must use special tools.
I had already talked about some of these Windows tools and I had written that, to delete the files in use, impossible to delete, the best program is Unlocker, but also providing some alternatives such as File Assassin .
An easier program to use is MoveOnBoot, free for Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7, which allows you not only to delete files but also to rename or move them from one folder to another .
It is an application developed specifically to perform file and folder management operations that are locked by the system .
It allows you to make removal requests for specific locked files and folders on which deletion or move operations cannot be performed when Windows is active.
After compiling this list, you can specify the action to be performed then, for example, move, rename, delete selected files and folders from the hard disk.
These operations will be performed when the computer restarts, before Windows is loaded.
The wizard method is simple and requires no extra knowledge.
An event log is kept with the history of the files removed, moved or renamed so as to keep a history and remember what operations have been done in case of problems.
To eliminate individual locked files, in addition to Unlocker and MoveOnBoot, you can also use other programs including:
1) FilExile very small open source tool that allows you to select a file or folder and delete it immediately, even if in use, locked or system.
2) LockHunter is a rather special Windows tool because, in addition to being able to delete a locked file, it also allows you to know and in case terminate the process that keeps it locked (a bit like Unlocker does above).
