Cannot Access CBR or CBZ Files Because of File Being Used by Another Process

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by calibreian

Appreciate the suggestions, Kovid. Hopefully I'll figure it out or I can just use it with an external CBR reader or convert everything to EPUB. I really like your program though.

And PeterT, I have actually tried Process Explorer which is the GUI version of handle, as well as File Locksmith. As for Process Explorer, I won't pretend to completely understand the data it's providing, but I see two calibre-parallel.exe executables running. I've looked at the handles and everything it provides, everything looks normal (though a bit over my head) but I'm not certain how to track if/what is accessing the CBR files in particular. With PowerLocksmith, I've checked and it says nothing is accessing the files, including when run as administrator.

You should not use an external program for your CBZ until you find out what's causing the problem.

[calibreian]

It doesn't seem to be, PeterT, I only have Windows Defender on that machine currently.

And thanks JSWolf, that was a helpful video, let me make sure I understood it correctly. So I attempted to open the CBR in my browser and got the error, which should mean it is being accessed by something. Then I searched in Process Explorer using the first file in the \SRVB\S folder, i.e. the filename of the first JPG of the comic, and it says "0 matching items". I'm also able to delete the JPG if I wanted, even while open, which suggests to me that it isn't actively in use - perhaps only when Calibre is trying to put it in the SRVB\F folder? Not sure.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by calibreian

It doesn't seem to be, PeterT, I only have Windows Defender on that machine currently.

And thanks JSWolf, that was a helpful video, let me make sure I understood it correctly. So I attempted to open the CBR in my browser and got the error, which should mean it is being accessed by something. Then I searched in Process Explorer using the first file in the \SRVB\S folder, i.e. the filename of the first JPG of the comic, and it says "0 matching items". I'm also able to delete the JPG if I wanted, even while open, which suggests to me that it isn't actively in use - perhaps only when Calibre is trying to put it in the SRVB\F folder? Not sure.

You need to search for the filename of the CBZ, not any of the contents.

[calibreian]

K, thank you. I tried that as well. I originally searched the filenames since they were in the folder mentioned in the error. My CBZs are in another folder that the Calibre library is linked to, i.e. C:\username\calibre comics library. But alas, I tried searching the CBZ filename as well, and got no luck on process explorer. Just on a whim, I tried the "cover" image file which was also in that folder, and it did locate that in Process Explorer. Killing it didn't do anything, of course, but it did demonstrate it was open.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by calibreian

K, thank you. I tried that as well. I originally searched the filenames since they were in the folder mentioned in the error. My CBZs are in another folder that the Calibre library is linked to, i.e. C:\username\calibre comics library. But alas, I tried searching the CBZ filename as well, and got no luck on process explorer. Just on a whim, I tried the "cover" image file which was also in that folder, and it did locate that in Process Explorer. Killing it didn't do anything, of course, but it did demonstrate it was open.

Should that be "C:\Users\username\calibre comics library"? Or is it as stated.

Unrelated to calibre — I recall intermittent file access problems on a Vista laptop when the owner created a folder at the root of the Windows system drive with their login name. IIRC changing the folder name to something innocuous solved the problem.

BR

[Lavender]

I seem to remember Microsoft power toys having a utility to check a file for being in use. Hope this helps.

[calibreian]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Should that be "C:\Users\username\calibre comics library"? Or is it as stated.

Unrelated to calibre — I recall intermittent file access problems on a Vista laptop when the owner created a folder at the root of the Windows system drive with their login name. IIRC changing the folder name to something innocuous solved the problem.

BR

You're right, I did mean C:\Users\username\calibre comics library, was just typing quickly. And did you mean having a folder with their login name at the very front of C:\? Or renaming their user folder to a new name? I was just using the provided one by Windows in the users folder, though I have tried moving everything outside onto a completely different drive as well with the same outcome.

Originally Posted by Lavender

I seem to remember Microsoft power toys having a utility to check a file for being in use. Hope this helps.

They do have File Locksmith, though it hasn't been able to reveal anything for me. It always says no results when checking the files that are supposedly being accessed. I've also tried Process Explorer, which is a similar tool but sadly no luck. Thanks for your suggestion though.

[PeterT]

The O/P mentioned to me in a PM that he's actually accessing the comics from another machine on his network!

Considering this error is so persistent, I'm starting to wonder if I'm just doing something incorrectly. I installed Calibre, added the CBR/Zs to the library, then selected "start content server". Then on another PC on the network, I go to my IP:8080 where I do see the comic books listed in the Calibre UI. Then I click on them and click "read". That's when I see the error. That is the correct order of operations, right?

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by PeterT

The O/P mentioned to me in a PM that he's actually accessing the comics from another machine on his network!

What application do you have set to open CBR/CBZ files on the machine on which you are trying to read them?

[Lavender]

Originally Posted by calibreian

They do have File Locksmith, though it hasn't been able to reveal anything for me. It always says no results when checking the files that are supposedly being accessed. I've also tried Process Explorer, which is a similar tool but sadly no luck. Thanks for your suggestion though.

Sorry, friend. Windows, man...

[calibreian]

Yeah, PeterT, that's what I meant in the OP with the line, "Here's the error when trying to access via Firefox over network." It also looks like local converts aren't in the SVRB/F folder, but rather the EV2/F folder, they work fine.

Originally Posted by DNSB

What application do you have set to open CBR/CBZ files on the machine on which you are trying to read them?

I was trying to use the native reader in Calibre via Firefox. I do have CBZ and CBR checked in the internal viewer behavior preferences, though I think that's local specific. From what I understand, Calibre will change those file types to EPUB, store it in calibre-cache folder, and open in the browser. When I try, it does do the conversion correctly, as the converted files are in the SRVB/S folder, but just can't seem to send them to the SRVB/F folder. I can even create the folder mentioned in my error in the SRVB/F folder, put the converted files there, and then it will read in my browser.

[PeterT]

Which computer is seeing the error? The "server" with the calibre library, or the machine where you are accessing the comic via the browser?

[kovidgoyal]

That definitely points to a security program, they are extra aggressive towards software that communicates over the internet.

[toomuchreading]

I've had this happen to me, so it's a long shot but worth mentioning. During your troubleshooting, do you have windows explorer open (or another explorer type program) looking at the directory the comic is in? If so close it. Once I closed file explorer my issue went away. For some reason, file explorer locked the file even though I was only looking at the book directory.

[calibreian]

Originally Posted by PeterT

Which computer is seeing the error? The "server" with the calibre library, or the machine where you are accessing the comic via the browser?

The server with the library, the error mentions the drive and folders on the server computer and I get the same error on multiple devices so it seems independent of where I try to view it from.

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

That definitely points to a security program, they are extra aggressive towards software that communicates over the internet.

Maybe so, though I don't believe I have anything beyond Windows Defender on this machine. It was a fresh Windows install, I've only added Firefox and a few other programs to get it up and running. I'll look into that more and see if I can disable something.

Originally Posted by toomuchreading

I've had this happen to me, so it's a long shot but worth mentioning. During your troubleshooting, do you have windows explorer open (or another explorer type program) looking at the directory the comic is in? If so close it. Once I closed file explorer my issue went away. For some reason, file explorer locked the file even though I was only looking at the book directory.

I definitely have had explorer open during the troubleshooting, though I don't believe it has been open every time, I think it has been closed most of the time. Checking now, yep, still same issue with it closed. Thanks for the suggestion though.