Error saving an HTML file in Windows 7 with Notepad++?

August 31st, 2012 5 comments [ tags: tech ]

Recently, I was editing an HTML file for a little site I put together called school photo frames. I was using Notepad++ and kept receiving an error when trying to save it.

The file was reported as being in use by another program or process. I search all over and found many posts about tweaking folder permissions, messing with DLL settings and running things as administrator.

None of that worked, of course, but what did work was even easier. You see, as I was opening the file via Windows explorer, it was opening up a file preview in the right pane of my window. As long as this preview is shown, the file is locked for editing. If you click off the filename, the preview goes away, and the file is editable again.

Thanks for that fun little curveball, Microsoft.

These are the actual errors you get when explorer has a lock on the file

WordPad:
“The document [PATH\FILENAME] is in use by another application and cannot be accessed.”

Notepad++:
“Save failed: Please check whether if this file is opened in another program”

Notepad:
“The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process.”

Microsoft Word:
“This file is read-only. ([PATH\FILENAME])”

5 Responses to “Error saving an HTML file in Windows 7 with Notepad++?”

David Etter on January 21st, 2013 at 6:42 pm #

‘Error saving an HTML file in Windows 7 with Notepad++?’

Hi Mitch, re “the process cannot access the file because…”, I just wanted to say Thank You. Microsoft has played some cruel tricks on me over the years but this one had me stumped for months. All I wanted to do was learn a thing or two about HTML – but as usual, MS had it to make it as trip-wire prone as possible…

Best regards,
DaveE
Anand Kumar on January 29th, 2013 at 6:10 pm #

Thanks for this simple and well written article. I was struggling with this problem (with notepad++) for a while now and would do so many tricks and the problem will seem to go away on its own (I might be inadvertently doing what you have suggested). But now I know the reason. Thanks.
xzaz on February 15th, 2013 at 9:45 pm #

Thanks, this is… amazing i guess?
michael on February 17th, 2013 at 10:53 pm #

had the same problem and you figured it out. thanks.
Philip B on April 11th, 2013 at 4:13 am #

I’ve been struggling with this seemingly random problem for literally months. Thank you!