FileAssassin Software

Malwarebaytes FileASSASSIN is a free program for Microsoft Windows devices to unlock locked files, and to delete them if required.

It sometimes happens that files or folders cannot be deleted, moved or modified in Windows. There are a number of reasons for that behavior with one of the most common ones that a process is keeping a lock on the file.

This can be an image viewer for instance that locks a photo that is currently displayed in the computer program. Any attempt to delete that photo will result in an error message. The viable solution at this point is to close the process to perform the operation on the file or folder.

But there are also situations where it is not as easy. Situations where the file operation cannot be executed even if there is no visible process locking that file.

That's when programs like FileAssassin or the previously reviewed Unlocker come into play.

Malwarebytes FileASSASSIN

FileAssassin can be downloaded as a portable version or as an installer. The installer integrates the unlocking options of the program to the right-click menu in Windows Explorer. This lets you select files or folders that you want unlocked easily using the default file browser of the operating system.

The portable version does not add those entries to Windows Explorer and can only be used from within the interface.

Files and folders can be dragged and dropped to the interface, or loaded by using the file browser.

FileAssassin will then try several methods of unlocking the file so that it can be modified or deleted.

The software in particular will

• unlock locked file handles
• unload modules
• terminate the file's process

You may disable some of the options if you don't want them used. For instance, if you don't want the file's process to be terminated, you would deselect that option.

It is optionally possible to delete the file by checking the box in the interface. If the delete option is not selected FileAssassin will try to unlock the file only so that other operations such as moving the file or renaming it become available again.

Another option that the program offers is to delete the file on the next start of the system. FileASSASSIN marks the selection for deletion on next reboot, and will try to delete them when you start the system the next time.

Closing words

FileAssassin is a good alternative to everybody's favorite file unlocker Unlocker. It can be downloaded from the software's project site over on the Malwarebytes website. The program is compatible with most versions of the Windows operating system including Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10.

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