"File is being used by another task"

shawnpatrickjoyce

I've been trying to move an mp3 file on my desktop to my iTunes music folder- unsuccessfully. A dialouge box pops up and says:

Quote:

Preparing to move to "iTunes Music"



The item "11 Life Goes On.mp3" is being used by another task right now. (Other tasks include moving, copying, or emptying the Trash.)



Try again when the other task is complete.

I've emptied the trash and restarted the computer to no avail. Trying to place the file in the trash doesn't work either. How do I either get rid of the file or make the dialouge box go away?

dobby

I assume the file is not open in any way.

Try doing a command line move.

Open terminal (under /applications/utilities)

at the prompt

cd ~/Desktop (this takes you to your Desktop directory)

ls -la (lists the contents of the directory)

mv whateverthefilenameis ../Music/ (should move the file to your Music directory).

if you get an error message either try sudo before the mv (supply the admin password) or

su root (enter the root password)

now try the move again.



If you don't know the root password then can start netinfomanager and delete the root user password or copy your password field contects and paste into the pasword field of root user you can also use nicl if you are familiar with this.



Dobby.

jbl

I have had this kind of thing happen to me a few times and done the command line thing. What a bother. Sometimes it is just easier to restart the computer. Why does this happen?

curiousuburb

Quote:

Originally posted by JBL

I have had this kind of thing happen to me a few times and done the command line thing. What a bother. Sometimes it is just easier to restart the computer. Why does this happen?

sounds like it might be bad file permissions.



try repairing them with Disk Utility

jbl

Quote:

Originally posted by curiousuburb

sounds like it might be bad file permissions.



try repairing them with Disk Utility

I'll try that next time but shouldn't it give me the "you do not have permission..." message rather than the "the file is in use..." message?

skalman

Hi,

try moving the file with the "mv" command in the terminal. For instructions "man mv"



Hope this helps

buonrotto

My hypothesis is that this message pops up after I preview the file from the Finder (column view). I think maybe the preview is cached and the Finder sees it as being in use.