File locked or in use

[Anonymous]

Checked this problem out on the FAQ and found information in document
TS19142 and to some extent TS6479. Unfortunately these just state that file
locking is now handled by the OS or that I have a network problem (like I
don't already know). What it does not say is how to unlock a file.

The problem is that my file server occasionally crashes. If I have an
autocad drawing open at the time it becomes locked and can no longer be
edited, deleted etc. To work around this I just open it read-only and carry
out a save-as. However I now have a number of redundant files on the hard
disk that in the interests of good audit practice should be deleted (thus
freeing up the original file name for re-use).

I would really appreciate some help with this.

[Anonymous]

Not sure what you are looking for: perhaps copying files to the individual
machine to work on when one of these crashes happens is a better option,
followed by a copy back when the server is back up.

But you have to fix the server crashes, or replace it, if you want trouble
free operation, and if that is the advise you seek, you might be better off
either asking in the Network discussion area, or consulting your PC/Server
manufacturer.

--
Dean Saadallah
http://www.pendean.com
LT Express Utilities
http://www.pendean.com/ltexpress
Expanded Links Pages
http://www.pendean.com/lt/links.htm
--

[Anonymous]

The problem with copying the file as you suggest is that whilst the new
version of the file is no longer locked, as soon as I try to copy it back to
the file server in the original folder with the original name, the problem
of the original version being locked and therefore undeletable come back
into effect and prevents overwriting. I still have to give the new version a
new name.

For example the original file is called 1234.dwg. This was opened when the
network was interupted so I named the copy of this file 1234v1.dwg and
carried on with this file. Should this be open and another network
interuption or server crash occur than there will be a new file and two
redundant ones.

The bottom line? All I really want to do is get rid of the old version, but
it's locked status appears to prevent this.

Regarding the server. I agree that it needs remedying and indeed this is in
hand. However crashes and network interuptions always happen and as long as
they do this file locking will continue to bug me.

Thanks

"Dean Saadallah" wrote in message
news:40F1190D4887D6A945C199C625BA9A2B@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Not sure what you are looking for: perhaps copying files to the individual
> machine to work on when one of these crashes happens is a better option,
> followed by a copy back when the server is back up.
>
> But you have to fix the server crashes, or replace it, if you want trouble
> free operation, and if that is the advise you seek, you might be better
off
> either asking in the Network discussion area, or consulting your PC/Server
> manufacturer.
>
> --
> Dean Saadallah
> http://www.pendean.com
> LT Express Utilities
> http://www.pendean.com/ltexpress
> Expanded Links Pages
> http://www.pendean.com/lt/links.htm
> --
>
>

[Anonymous]

>>>The bottom line? All I really want to do is get rid of the old version,
but it's locked status appears to prevent this.<<<

It's not AutoCAD that is locking it, it's your OS or Server is what I am
trying to say here: if you cannot right click on the file in the server,
select Properties, and remove the READ ONLY tag attached to it, you need to
stop using your server as it is slowly going to completely trash your entire
office's access to all files you have on it.

This is not the place for the kind of help you need: you need to provide
full specifications on your server, details and summary and connections to
PCs, Windows versions throughout, type of network, drives and everything
else someone not in your office needs, then you post either at Microsoft's
website, Novell's (if that is what your network is), or Compaq's (or however
your server creator is), or one of these locations:
news://discussion.autodesk.com/autodesk.autocad.network
http://discussion.autodesk.com/WebX?14@81.mHbbagFYoof.0@.ee77eff

news://discussion.autodesk.com/pn.hardware
http://discussion.autodesk.com/WebX?14@93.9H2UagZYoAc.0@.f10501c

--
Dean Saadallah
http://www.pendean.com
LT Express Utilities
http://www.pendean.com/ltexpress
Expanded Links Pages
http://www.pendean.com/lt/links.htm
--

[Anonymous]

just restart the server, then you'll be able to delete the old files