How To: Delete System Blocked Files

At times a runaway application and/or service may prevent you from deleting a file. The typical types of diagnostics may include:
"Access Is Denied"
"Sharing Violation Error"
"File/Folder is being used by applications. Please close the application and then try again."

To delete the file, you should first kill the handle. You would need a Process Explorer from Sysinternals package available at Microsoft site. After you have installed the utility, follow these steps:

• start Process Explorer
• proceed to 'Find' menu, 'Enter File/Folder name' and then click on 'Search'. A list of processes will be displayed, those blocking the file/folder.
• right click on the process and then click on Close Handle > Click OK to confirm

After the blocking processes are terminated, you can remove the file/folder.