File.Replace - File is being used by another process error

Question

Question background:

I am attempting to overwrite the contents of one specified file with the contents of another specified file within a folder on my C drive using the following 'File.Replace' method:

//'null' has been set to the 'backup file' parameter as I do not need this.
File.Replace(fileOnesLocation, filesTwosLocation, null);

The error:

I have the above method wrapped in a try catch and am currently receiving the following error:

System.IO.IOException: The process cannot access the file 
because it is being used by another process.

Can anyone point me in the right direction of whats going wrong here?

Are you sure you didn't open the file somewhere else in your code? — Fedor Hajdu, Feb 24 '14 at 13:01
The error clearly states that file is being used by another process. Just check it once in processes if it is opened. — Microsoft DN, Feb 24 '14 at 13:04
@HansPassant I've just discovered that your are indeed correct there. — user1352057, Feb 24 '14 at 13:15
FWIW `Process Explorer`, http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx is a great app to determine who has a file open — Peter M, Feb 24 '14 at 13:17

score 4 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 10:28

If you want to avoid this errors, you could try doing something like this answer, create a method to check whether your file is open or not.

protected virtual bool IsFileLocked(FileInfo file)
{
    FileStream stream = null;

    try
    {
        stream = file.Open(FileMode.Open, FileAccess.ReadWrite, FileShare.None);
    }
    catch (IOException)
    {
        //the file is unavailable because it is:
        //still being written to
        //or being processed by another thread
        //or does not exist (has already been processed)
        return true;
    }
    finally
    {
        if (stream != null)
            stream.Close();
    }

    //file is not locked
    return false;
}

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 24 '14 at 13:07

0

If the file is open either by you or another logged in user then you may not be able to open it.

check in task manager for processes by users and close the file.

answered Feb 24 '14 at 13:07

Liam Hayman Tansley

67
6

Mark Vickery · Accepted Answer · 2014-02-24T13:13:32.817

-1

This error is often caused when the file being replaced or written to is open by you or someone/thing while the code is running.

edited Feb 24 '14 at 13:13

answered Feb 24 '14 at 13:02

Mark Vickery

1,927
3
22
34

9

This answer should be posted as comment to original question. – insomnium_ Feb 24 '14 at 13:03

File.Replace - File is being used by another process error

3 Answers3