Trouble Updating Windows Vista

Image via CrunchBase

If you’re getting an error message with a code 0×80072F8F when you try to use the Windows Update site, check the date and time settings on the PC. If the computer’s date and time are too far off from the Windows Update servers, you may see errors. Microsoft has a full explanation online; the article also explains how certain system files may be causing the update error, and what to do about it.

If you find yourself regularly changing the system’s date and time in the Control Panel every time you start it up, the little CMOS battery on the computer’s motherboard may be dying. Your PC’s manual probably has specific instructions for replacing the battery or seek the help of a computer repair shop.

Reminder: Microsoft ended update support last month for Windows Vista systems that haven’t been updated with service packs. If you haven’t downloaded and installed any of the Vista service packs, you can get them online.

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Getting Past "Being Used By Another Person Or Program" Errors

Have you ever had an annoying situation where you tried to delete a file or folder and were given an error message that the file is in use by another person or program? or one of the following similar errors?

• Cannot delete file: Access is denied
  
• The file is in use by another program or user.
• The source or destination file may be in use.
• Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is not currently in use.
• There has been a sharing violation.

You go to the task manager and can't find the offending program running in processes, so what do you do? Reboot and hope for the best? Sometimes even this doesn't help.

I stumbled on a great tool for this problem called Unlocker.

After installing unlocker, when you get these error messages, just right click on the file and choose the unlocker options and you will be given a windows that shows what program(s) is effecting the file you are trying to delete and give you the options to kill the process, unlock, or unlock all. Try the unlock and that will usually let you delete the file otherwise kill the process and it definitely will.

In addition to helping delete files that are locked, you can also use this tool to help rename locked files or make them movable to a different directory.

The best part is that the tool is free but you can choose to send a donation also.

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