Delete a file in use by another process in vb.net / framework 2.0 - vb.net

Question

I have a program that watches if there is a file with a certain name, in a certain directory.
the FileStream is created with the sequent command:
fs = File.Open(PathK, FileMode.Append, FileAccess.Write, FileShare.None)
After half an hour, the program closes, disposes and kills the text file and then shuts down itself, calling for another program to create another process of itself and closes the old one.
Sometimes this doesn't happen though. The file can't be removed and it causes an error.
After that the program closes itself and continues with its restart routine. but when it starts itself, it checks if there is that specific file, and there it is, because it couldn't kill it. Now, i can do File.OpenRead on that file, so the old filestream of the old process is not running, so it means the old one process is shut down. But I still can't kill it!
this is the starting code:
Private Sub Verifica_PID_Aperti()
Dim Tentativi As Integer = 0
PidAlreadyOpen = 0
'file exist ?
If File.Exists(PathK) = True Then
Try
'can i read it?
File.OpenRead(PathK)
Catch ex As Exception
'if it's locked than there is another PID active right now, stop this process
Settaggi.lStop = 1
PidAlreadyOpen = 1
Exit Sub
End Try
'not locked? than it's a bug and the file is still open, try to delete
While (Tentativi < 1000)
Try
File.Delete(PathK)
Tentativi = 1000
Catch ex As Exception
Tentativi = Tentativi + 1
End Try
End While
'is him still alive?
If File.Exists(PathK) Then
'if yes, there is an error, sand a mail and close yourself
Dim pf As New Send_Mail
pf.Invio_Mail_Automatico_EDP(999, "ERRORECHIUSURA", Err.Description & " - " & PathK, "", Settaggi.lPID)
pf = Nothing
Settaggi.lStop = 1
PidAlreadyOpen = 1
Exit Sub
Else
'ok, if it does not exists anymore, create another one
fs = File.Open(PathK, FileMode.Append, FileAccess.Write, FileShare.None)
End If
Else
'no file ? than create it
fs = File.Open(PathK, FileMode.Append, FileAccess.Write, FileShare.None)
End If
End Sub
and here it's the code for the restart procedure:
If PidAlreadyOpen = 0 Then
'close and clean
fs.Close()
fs.Dispose()
End If
Threading.Thread.Sleep(1000)
Dim Chiusura As Integer = 0
While Chiusura < 1000
Try
'try to delete
File.Delete(PathK)
If TimeToReboot = 1 Then
System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(Application.ExecutablePath, "/noservice /release /PID:" & Settaggi.lPID)
End If
Catch ex As Exception
Chiusura = Chiusura + 1
' not deleted ? send an email, and don't stop yourself
If Chiusura = 999 Then
Dim pf As New Send_Mail
pf.Invio_Mail_Automatico_EDP(999, "ERRORECHIUSURA", Err.Description & " - " & PathK, "", Settaggi.lPID)
pf = Nothing
Exit Sub
End If
Threading.Thread.Sleep(100)
End Try
'deleted? than stop the loop
If Not File.Exists(PathK) Then
Chiusura = 1000
End If
End While
Me.Close()
how do you think should i resolve this problem ?

Answer 1

I don't think there's much you can do here. I had similar issues in the past and found that, while it's not possible to delete the file, it is possible to rename the file. Depending on the situation, you can rename the file and open a new file with that name. You'll also need to check, later in the process, if the renamed file is still used and delete it.