When encountering the error message “failed to delete some children. This might happen because a process has files open or has its working directory set in the target directory,” it means that there are certain files or processes preventing the deletion of child files/directories.
This error typically occurs in scenarios where a file or directory is being deleted, but there are other programs or processes currently accessing or using those files. It can also occur if the working directory for a process is set to the directory that is being targeted for deletion.
To resolve this issue, you can take the following steps:
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Close any programs or processes using the files/directories:
Make sure that you have closed all applications or processes that may have any open handles to the files or directories you’re attempting to delete. This can include text editors, image viewers, or any other application that accesses files in the target directory. -
Restart your system:
In some cases, certain processes may not release their handles on the files immediately. Restarting your system can help ensure that all handles are released, allowing for successful deletion. -
Change the working directory of any processes:
If there are any processes with their current working directory set to the target directory, you’ll need to change their working directory first. For example, if a command prompt is open and the current directory is set to the target directory, change the directory to a different location using the “cd” command.
Once you have taken the necessary steps to close any programs/processes using the files or change the working directory, you should be able to delete the children files/directories successfully without encountering the mentioned error.
Example:
C:\TargetDirectory> rmdir /s ChildDirectory
The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process.
In the above example, the “rmdir” command is unable to delete the “ChildDirectory” due to another process still using a file or having its working directory set to “ChildDirectory”. Following the steps mentioned earlier will help in resolving this issue.