File-Stream is being used by another process

Question

FileStream f=new FileStream("c:\\file.xml",FileMode.Create);
StreamWriter sf=new StreamWriter(f);
sf.WriteLine(stroka);
sf.Close();
sf.Dispose();
f.Close();
f.Dispose();
FileStream f1=new FileStream("c:\\file.xml",FileMode.Open);
StreamReader sr=new StreamReader("c:\\file.xml");
xmlreader=new XmlTextReader(sr);
sr.Close();
sr.Dispose();
f1.Close();
f1.Dispose();

I am getting this error:

The process cannot access the file 'c:\file.xml' because it is being used by another process

I've closed all and disposed all. What's the problem?

score 9 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:01

Replace:

StreamReader sr=new StreamReader("c:\\file.xml");

With:

StreamReader sr=new StreamReader(f1);

You're creating new StreamReader without the FileStream

Additional data:

The StreamReader object calls Dispose on the provided Stream object when StreamReader.Dispose is called.
Dispose method calls the Close method. Read this for more info.

Meaning: you can remove the Dispose and Close you wrote on the FileStream

FileStream f = new FileStream("c:\\file.xml", FileMode.Create);
StreamWriter sf = new StreamWriter(f);
sf.WriteLine(stroka);
sf.Dispose();

FileStream f1 = new FileStream("c:\\file.xml", FileMode.Open);
StreamReader sr = new StreamReader(f1);
xmlreader = new XmlTextReader(sr);
sr.Dispose();

But you really should use the using statement for unmanaged resources, read this.

I had this problem , please note that you should 'Close' the stream before 'Disposing' — Mironline, Mar 28 '12 at 10:42
@Mironline. That is being done automatically. read **all** of my answer... you can see what is Dispose doing [here](http://stackoverflow.com/a/911431/601179) — gdoron, Mar 28 '12 at 10:46

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 22 '12 at 14:57

2

You have a FileStream and a StreamReader on the same file. Remove this line:

FileStream f1=new FileStream("c:\\file.xml",FileMode.Open);

answered Mar 22 '12 at 14:57

Alexandre

4,382
2
23
33

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 22 '12 at 14:57

Change

StreamReader sr=new StreamReader("c:\\file.xml");

to

StreamReader sr=new StreamReader(f1);

both of the followiong lines of code are separate objects trying to access the same file:

FileStream f1=new FileStream("c:\\file.xml",FileMode.Open); 
StreamReader sr=new StreamReader("c:\\file.xml");

so each is attempting to access teh file indivodually, whereas changing your code to my connection cases sr to access the file Through f1

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Mar 22 '12 at 14:59

The problem may be at:

FileStream f1=new FileStream("c:\\file.xml",FileMode.Open);
StreamReader sr=new StreamReader("c:\\file.xml");

Filestream may be accessing the file and then StreamReader tries to access the file separately. Try having your StreamReader use the same defined Stream.

File-Stream is being used by another process

4 Answers4