Renaming AVI Files

[RPT]

When I click on to delete or rename an .avi file, I get the message that "it is being used by another person or program". These files are not being made available through any P2P program. When I want to delete one of these files I'm using a handy little application that does that when the computer reboots, but I seem to recall that there was a way to bypass that "being used .." message to delete or rename. Can anyone help?
Many thanks!!

[jmet]

You can delete it through DOS. I ran across a couple of those in my VCD days.

[ashes]

Open Task Manager to see what other programs are running in the background that might be accessing such files.

[LT. Columbo]

"Can anyone help?"

yes, i get that sometimes---makes me angry somethin terrible too

this almost always works, right click the file "cut", open recycle bin, "paste" . empty bin. if not, re-boot then do this.

[tigerman8u]

a reboot of the system will usually solve the problem. Their is a fix via the registry that I have read about but never tried. Will try to find and post back

[RPT]

Thanks for the suggestions folks. However, all of them allow you to delete an .avi file. I want to be able to rename it.
Thx again.
p.s. - ashes, I've checked the task manager. I can't identify any program that would be accessing the .avi files.

[LT. Columbo]

rename you say?

right click the culprit, use "properties" NOT "rename"