What kind of file is it? Is it a data file (like .doc, etc) or is it a software file?

Try doing it in Safe Mode (press F8 before XP starts to load). If you still can't rename it, go to this link and download (free) Wholockme. It will help you identify the application that may be using that file. Then you can stop that application and rename the other file.

Ron

The file is an adobe pdf file.  Would that make a difference?

Where do I download Wholockme from?

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@esoterica wrote:

Adobe likes to force their software to automaticly run in the background and start when your computer starts (which slows your over all system performance down and for no benefit to you).

This is why even after you rebooted, Acrobat is still running even though you don't see it running and didn't start it yourself. I like to prevent all programs from starting when I start Windows and instead only start them and then end them as I need them.

Adobe will force their software to autostart in 1 of 2 or both places. The first one is easy for you to get rid of, just click "START" got to "ALL PROGRAMS" then go up to the program folder named "START UP". I like to delete everything that finds it's way into that folder. It's all safe to delete, doesn't remove the actual program, just stops it from needlessly eating up your system resources by starting automaticly for no real reason when Windows boots.

The second place they like to sneak these autorunning programs in is within your Windows registry, people make the registry out to be a scary place, mainly just to keep people from getting too adventurous in there and possibly doing real damage. Also to scare a person away from wanting to delete the stupid programs that auto start when your system does. Deleteing the programs that get put in there to auto run and knowing where to find them is one thing everyone should know and no one should be afraid to go into.

Click "START"

go to "RUN"

type in:

REGEDIT

hit ok

A window will open with what will look to you something like using Windows Explorer with the folder icons on the left and little plus and minus symbols to raise or drop the list. navigate by clicking the plus (+) symbols.

The first one you'll want to go after will be called:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

click the + and scroll down to:

SOFTWARE

click the + and scroll down to:

MICROSOFT

click the + and scroll down to:

WINDOWS

click the + and scroll down to:

CURRENT VERSION

click the + and scroll down to:

RUN

click on RUN so it's highlighted,

you'll probably see a long list of things open up in the other window pane on your right

you can right click on each item in that right side pane with RUN highlighted and selectively delete all of them if you want to (don't worry about the one that says "(DEFAULT)" ). Personaly, I like to delete all of them and your not going to hurt anything, or uninstall anything or do any harm to your system by doing so. You'll find the more if not all of those entries you delete, the faster your computer is going to boot and run afterwards (noticeably faster too).

Your not completely done yet though, over by RUN you may have some others with names like "RunOnce" and such. Highlight those and delete the garbage that may be in there as well.

Now you'll need to go back to the top of that left hand list and this time go to the exact same place and do the exact same thing but under:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER

SOFTWARE

and so on all the way down to RUN

Close that Window and reboot your computer, you'll notice it boots and runs faster now, plus you should be able to rename your file if you have the proper user rights on your system to be allowed to rename files.

*Just one side note, if you have programs like Antivirus software that you may want to auto start and run in the background when Windows starts, just reopen what ever program it is by the normal means (START > ALL PROGRAMS etc..) start the program yourself then go into it's options and choose the option to automaticly start with Windows).

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esoterica,

Thank you for your wonderful explanation about adobe files and autorun files. So many other things make sense now. I'm off to attack the Start Up folder and Regedit. I'll let you know how it goes.

The Windows Registry is easy to learn and the true heart of controlling your system and forcing it to do what you want despite the normal avenues of "user control" options you think you have.

I learned about the Windows Registry and the benefits of understanding it going all the way back to beta releases of Windows 95 (been on computers since the days of the "386" and never stopped).

It really kills me when you hear people talking about the Windows registry and they go on about warnings and backing up your registry and how disasterous it is to use. I've been in controll of my systems for years from knowing how to use the Windows Registry and never had an issue, It just gets things done.

I learned how to use my registry from alot of reading at a web site that's been around at least 10 years and still going strong. They've changed their URl and I still don't remember the new URL, but the old one I know and it still takes you to their web site...

http://www.regedit.com/

 

 

Unless you know exactly what you're doing, I would not recommend you do any registry editing.

Instead, click start>run
Type in: msconfig
Click OK

Click Startup tab. Uncheck everything related to Acrobat and reboot your PC. You'll get a message about selective startup. Just put a check in the "don't show this..." box. You can safely uncheck everything on this tab except those items related to your firewall, antiviral software, mouse, video.

Let me repeat, if you make any mistakes editiing the registry, you may prevent your system from ever booting again and that may require you to reformat and reinstall everything, with loss of all your personal files.

Ron

Thank you for your concern about my going into the registry. I decided against going in for I remembered someone telling me once that if I messed it up, I'd probably have to re-format my PC. Thanks for the idea of msconfig. I did check that and unchecked adobe acrobat.

:)