How do I delete a ‘locked’ file in Vista 64?

Question

This question asks how to delete a locked file in Windows XP. The answers in there don't apply to Windows Vista 64. Is there some app like Unlocker that works in Vista 64?

Answer 1

You can use Process Explorer to search for file handles (or any other type of handle) and close them.

Edit per comment: Yeah, good point. Forcing the handle closed is kind of a last resort. You can use the search functionaltiy to identify what exactly is holding onto the file and then just close that out gracefully. Sometimes you can't (the OS is holding on to something for god knows what reason) and you need to force the handle closed, but generally, it's pretty easy to see what's holding the file and close it.

What your second comment says to me is that the application that's holding the file has it in different states. Sometimes it may flush the file so you can delete it and other times it's actively using the file. Can you figure out the state of the application that's holding the file to determine when you can and cannot close the file? That is, try and get the application to put the file in a state that it can be deleted without actually closing the application.

Answer 2

I use Emco UnLock IT on my vista 64. It's not as easy to use as Unlocker but it gets the job done (most of the time).

Found two more utilities over at Lifehacker.

LockHunter (Have both 64 and 32 bit versions)
KillBox (Beware this might kill the locking process)

Answer 3

I found LockHunter today, an Unlocker equivalent that works on 64 bit Windows.

Answer 4

Apparently Malwarebyte's FileAssassin works on Vista 64bit. Failing that, a Linux liveCD is always a last resort option.