DeleteFile() Function

Hi,

when i try to delete a file with DeleteFile function it returns 0 and the error code is 32 ( ERROR_SHARING_VIOLATION ).

Can you tell me how i can force the Deletion of the file?I know that we can mark it for deletion on restart( MoveFileEx function ), but is it there another way to do it?

Can we get a list of the file's opened handles, and then close them all and finally delete the file? If yes, what is the function to get the file's opened handles?


Thanks in advance.

Is this file opened by your process or by the other process?

The file is opened by other process.

If the file doesn't need to be deleted, you could try opening the file in write share mode and just wipe the file's content.

Maybe truncating it would be a better choice, by setting the file's length. I don't remember the function for that, however.

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Originally Posted by Elysia

Maybe truncating it would be a better choice, by setting the file's length. I don't remember the function for that, however.

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By setting the file's length to what? Do you mean the ios::trunc function?

O.K i have managed to wipe the file with zero's as Yarin said.

Under Windows Xp i have no problems, but under Windows vista i get this message:

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Can not enumerate files in directory 'C:\Users\Administrator\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files' (error 5: Access denied)

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Can you tell me please, how can i grant the required permission Under Windows Vista to access the file( programmatically ) ?

Set your manifest to require admin privileges to run it. This is just an option in compiler settings if you use Visual Studio 2008.
You can also truncate your file by using windows SetEndOfFile API.
Seek to beginning and call it, and your file's contents will be truncated and filesize will be 0. Pretty easy way to delete it.

If the file is in use by another process, is it really a good idea to delete or truncate it? It could cause problems for the other process.

Typically it's the same, though.
If another process uses it, it will usually be locked, so you can neither open nor delete it.

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Originally Posted by patrick22

Can we get a list of the file's opened handles, and then close them all and finally delete the file? If yes, what is the function to get the file's opened handles?


Thanks in advance.

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SysInternals' Process Explorer can show you file handles and also close the handle of a currently open file. www.sysinternals.com redirects to a MS web-page that has the process explorer and some other useful tools.

This is OBVIOUSLY not a good thing to do in general, but I have used to to get past a locked-up application when trying to avoid restarting the machine just because some app has locked up [with some file I need to work on, or a lock-file that needs to be released to start another instance].

--
Mats

I tend to use Unlocker for wrestling locked files from applications. Handy thing.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Elysia

Set your manifest to require admin privileges to run it. This is just an option in compiler settings if you use Visual Studio 2008.

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Actually, i am not using Visual Studio 2008. Visual Studio 2005 Express Editon is good for me.;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Elysia

You can also truncate your file by using windows SetEndOfFile API.Seek to beginning and call it

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Wow Elysia, i will give it a try.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cpjust

If the file is in use by another process, is it really a good idea to delete or truncate it? It could cause problems for the other process.

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It depends on, which file we are trying to delete, and on what we are trying to achieve?

I have tried the SetEndOfFile function, it did not work.

GetLastError() returns the following error:

ERROR_USER_MAPPED_FILE : The requested operation cannot be performed on a file with a user-mapped section open.

What does that mean?