377
votes

I keep getting this error during the build of my VS2012 C# project

Error   41  Could not copy "obj\Debug\WeinGartner.WeinCad.exe" to
 "bin\Debug\WeinGartner.WeinCad.exe". 
 Exceeded retry count of 10. Failed.    


Error   42  Unable to copy file "obj\Debug\WeinGartner.WeinCad.exe" to
"bin\Debug\WeinGartner.WeinCad.exe". The process cannot access the file
'bin\Debug\WeinGartner.WeinCad.exe' because it is being used by another 
process.    

Now I've figured out that killing the process

Weingartner.WeinCad.vhost.exe

works (sometimes ) but this is getting on my nerves. Any way to stop this happening at all?

My debugger settings are

enter image description hereenter image description here

30
For me it was caused by manually launched .exe in the Release directory. The problem was that VS cannot copy over an executable that is still running. I'll try to fix it with properly cleaning up resources so the program does not leave hanging after window close button.lahjaton_j
There is a good summary of this problem with typical steps to resolve in this questionLightCC
This was happening for me because Windows Defender decided it no longer liked the .exe from the VS2019 project upon which I am working. Been working on this for weeks with no issue but today, guess a new update didn't like it. Had to exclude my Source folders. Stopped happening.IronRod

30 Answers

443
votes

I have encountered similar error messages in Visual Studio 2013.

Mostly, I have found that this situation has occurred when a debug process was halted because of an exception.

When clean+build has not resolved this problem for me, I have had success by doing the following:

  • Closing Visual Studio
  • Deleting the bin and obj folders, and
  • Reopening Visual Studio.

This "bug" has existed since Visual Studio 2003.

Finally, I have also found that I can often overcome this problem by simply renaming the executable file and then deleting it.

109
votes

In Visual Studio Premium 2013 (Update 3), I solved this with a pre-build one-liner:

(if exist "$(TargetDir)*old.pdb" del "$(TargetDir)*old.pdb") & (if exist "$(TargetDir)*.pdb" ren "$(TargetDir)*.pdb" *.old.pdb)

This gracefully deletes any old PDB files (if it can), then renames anything that's left with a .old.pdb extension. A nice side effect is that if the old PDB is still locked, it just adds another .old piece to the filename, and they all get cleaned up next time you restart Visual Studio and do a build.

For example, build/debug session 1 leaves MyProject.pdb locked.
The next time you build:
MyProject.pdb --> MyProject.old.pdb

Then, build/debug session 2 is started, and both MyProject.pdb and MyProject.old.pdb are still locked:
MyProject.old.pdb --> MyProject.old.old.pdb
MyProject.pdb --> MyProject.old.pdb

Finally, restarting Visual Studio and doing a fresh build will get rid of both of these, and continue the process as usual.

80
votes

It's because you have closed your application, but it's still running in background.

Temporary solution:

  • Go to Task Manager (Ctrl + Alt + Esc).
  • Go to Processes tab and find "YourProjectName.exe".
  • Check "Show processes from all users" if you can't find your process.
  • End Process it.

Permanent solution: you have to close your application through coding. Here is the code...

System.Windows.Forms.Application.Exit();

You have to put this code in to the form's closing event in all form. Example:

private void frm_menu_FormClosing(object sender, FormClosingEventArgs e)
{
    System.Windows.Forms.Application.Exit();
}
25
votes

the .vhost.exe is a debugger process, so it appears that the process being debugged hasn't closed properly. Chances are you have a bug that's keeping it alive and are not stopping the debug process correctly - there are options to detach from the process when you click 'stop debugging' instead of actually killing the debugger so maybe you have that set.

But that's the problem - the file you're trying to copy over is locked (ie still being used) by the OS so its preventing the copy. Ensure that file is free and you'll be able to copy.

25
votes

I have solved it by killing IISExpress in task manager

20
votes

You should disable your antivirus (especailly if it is an Avast) and try again. It helped me. The problem is that the debugger/builder creates the .exe file that is identified as a threat by Avast and therefor deleted right before it could be executed by VS.

15
votes

I was able to fix this issue (VS 2010) through supplying following pre build action;

if exist "$(TargetPath).locked" del "$(TargetPath).locked"

if exist "$(TargetPath)" if not exist "$(TargetPath).locked" move "$(TargetPath)" "$(TargetPath).locked"
13
votes

Quote:

A workaround is to put this in the Pre-build event command line property of the >project (In the build Events tab):

Code Snippet

if exist "$(TargetPath).locked" del "$(TargetPath).locked"

if exist "$(TargetPath)" if not exist "$(TargetPath).locked" move "$(TargetPath)" "$(TargetPath).locked"
9
votes

Exception

In some cases in Visual Studio when you (Build || Rebuild) on top of running IISExpress you faced with this Exception:

Unable to copy file "obj\Debug\YourProjectName.dll" to bin\YourProjectName.dll". the process cannot access the file 'bin\YourProjectName.dll' because it is being used by another process

Solution

  1. Right click on web project that needs to build.
  2. Click on properties.
  3. Select Build Events Tab on the left side.
  4. In Pre-build events command line paste these 2 line:
tasklist /fi "imagename eq iisexpress.exe" |find ":" > nul
if errorlevel 1 taskkill /f /im "iisexpress.exe"

You are good 2 GO!

7
votes

Follow the below steps

  1. Open Task Manager ( Ctrl + Alt + Delete )
  2. Under Performance tab select select <ProjectNameOfYours.exe>.
  3. Click on End Process.
  4. Now Build solution.

Above steps resolved error permanently :)

6
votes

I think I solved it removing the check mark to Break all processes when one process breaks in Debug options (op's first screenshot->second option).
It's been building/running well for a while since I unchecked it.
I'm using MySql NET Connector and DevExpress controls in my project. May be one of them was not disposing connections, bindings, etc. well because of this flag beeing activated.

EDITED: definitely it works! No more 'Unable to copy file' and no more Form designer errors.

6
votes

It seems that by change the assembly name of a project fixes the problem.

So instead of this

enter image description here

I change it to this

enter image description here

Notice that I just changed it from Increment and Recall to Increment_Recall, I just removed the spaces. It is now working fine to me.

6
votes

Killing the process w3wp.exe (IIS) will often solve this.
Generally, you can know the process that has the lock on the file by navigating to the bin folder and trying to delete it. The error message that will pop up, in case another process is using it, will contain the name of the process that needs to be killed.

5
votes

My 10 cents contribution.

I still have this problem occasionally on VS 2015 Update 2.

I found that switching compilation target solves the problem.

Try this: if you are in DEBUG switch to RELEASE and build, then back to DEBUG. The problem is gone.

Stefano

4
votes

I faced the same problem on VS 2012 Version 11.0.60610.01 Update 3 on Windows 8

There were no designer windows open and the project was a simple console application.

The removal of the vshost process accessing the file does not work most of the time since the process isn't accessing the file.

The simplest workaround that works and takes the least amount of time is to remove the project from the solution, build another project in the solution and then add the original back.

It's an irritant and waste of time but it's the least expensive of all the other options that I know of.

Hope this helps...

4
votes

Add in pre-build event of your master project taskkill /f /fi "pid gt 0" /im "YourProcess.vshost.exe"

4
votes

If none of the answers works, try this simple check. Find for any MSbuild.exe running and holding your project EXE. Kill MSBuild.exe and you should be good to go.

2
votes

I cannot give a solution to prevent this from happening but you can at least RENAME the locked file (windows explorer, or classic command window) and then compile/build. No need to reboot or restart VS201x. With some experience you can add a pre-build script to delete old files or rename then out-of-the-way in case there's a lock.

2
votes

See this other answer. Basically, you could have MSBuild.exe processes running in the background consuming resource files. If you have any pre or post build tasks that cause an MSBuild to be kicked off via command line, try adding the "/nr:false" flag to this command. But again, see the previous answer for more specific details.

2
votes

I finally how fix it. Why we can't continue debug after the first debug because the first debug exe still running. So that, after first debug, you need to go to Task Manager -> Process Tab -> [your project name exe] end the exe process.

it works for me :)

2
votes

@Geoff's (https://stackoverflow.com/a/25251766/3739540) answer is good, but it throws error code 1 on recompile.

Here is what worked for me (2>nul 1>nul on the end + exit 0):

(if exist "$(TargetDir)*old.pdb" del "$(TargetDir)*old.pdb") & (if exist "$(TargetDir)*.pdb" ren "$(TargetDir)*.pdb" *.old.pdb) 2>nul 1>nul
(if exist "$(TargetDir)*old.dll" del "$(TargetDir)*old.dll") & (if exist "$(TargetDir)*.dll" ren "$(TargetDir)*.dll" *.old.dll) 2>nul 1>nul
exit 0
2
votes

If you are debugging T4 templates, then this happens all the time. My solution (before MS fixes this) would be just to kill this process:

Task Manager --> User --> T4VSHostProcess.exe

This process only comes up when you debug a T4 template, not when you run one.

2
votes

Here is a script to definitely get rid of this issue:

REM   This script is invoked before compiling an assembly, and if the target file exist, it moves it to a temporary location
REM   The file-move works even if the existing assembly file is currently locked-by/in-use-in any process.
REM   This way we can be sure that the compilation won't end up claiming the assembly cannot be erased!

echo PreBuildEvents 
echo  $(TargetPath) is %1
echo  $(TargetFileName) is %2 
echo  $(TargetDir) is %3   
echo  $(TargetName) is %4

set dir=C:\temp\LockedAssemblies

if not exist %dir% (mkdir %dir%)

REM   delete all assemblies moved not really locked by a process
del "%dir%\*" /q

REM   assembly file (.exe / .dll) - .pdb file and eventually .xml file (documentation) are concerned
REM   use %random% to let coexists several process that hold several versions of locked assemblies
if exist "%1"  move "%1" "%dir%\%2.locked.%random%"
if exist "%3%4.pdb" move "%3%4.pdb" "%dir%\%4.pdb.locked%random%"
if exist "%3%4.xml.locked" del "%dir%\%4.xml.locked%random%"

REM Code with Macros
REM   if exist "$(TargetPath)"  move "$(TargetPath)" "C:\temp\LockedAssemblies\$(TargetFileName).locked.%random%"
REM   if exist "$(TargetDir)$(TargetName).pdb" move "C:\temp\LockedAssemblies\$(TargetName).pdb" "$(TargetDir)$(TargetName).pdb.locked%random%"
REM   if exist "$(TargetDir)$(TargetName).xml.locked" del "C:\temp\LockedAssemblies\$(TargetName).xml.locked%random%"

REM PreBuildEvent code
REM   $(SolutionDir)\BuildProcess\PreBuildEvents.bat  "$(TargetPath)"  "$(TargetFileName)"  "$(TargetDir)"  "$(TargetName)"

REM References:
REM   http://www.hanselman.com/blog/ManagingMultipleConfigurationFileEnvironmentsWithPreBuildEvents.aspx
REM   http://stackoverflow.com/a/2738456/27194
REM   http://stackoverflow.com/a/35800302/27194

The script needs to be invoked from each VS project pre build event.

$(SolutionDir)\BuildProcess\PreBuildEvents.bat  "$(TargetPath)"  "$(TargetFileName)"  "$(TargetDir)"  "$(TargetName)"

enter image description here

2
votes
  1. Open project properties [ menu > project > properties ]
  2. Choose "debug" tab
  3. Uncheck "Enable the visual studio hosting process"
  4. Start debugging [F5]
  5. You will receive security warning , just "ok". Lets application running
  6. Stop debugging.
  7. Check option "Enable the visual studio hosting process" , under debug tab,
  8. Now , try to start debugging , you will not see error again

[Work for me]

2
votes

In my case it was Resharper Unit Tests runner (plus NUnit tests, never had such problem with MsTests). After killing the process, was able to rebuild process, without restarting OS or VS2013.

Other test runners, like xUnit can cause the same issue.

What helps then is to check if you can add a Dispose pattern, for example if you're adding a DbFixture and the database contacts isn't disposed properly. That will cause the assembly files being locked even if the tests completed.

Note that you can just add IDisposable interface to your DbFixture and let IntelliSense add the Dispose pattern. Then, dispose the related contained propertys and explicitly assign them to null.

That will help to end the tests in a clean way and unlock related locked files as soon as the tests ended.

Example (DBFixture is used by xUnit tests):

public class DbFixture: IDisposable
{
    private bool disposedValue;
    public ServiceProvider ServiceProvider { get; private set; }
    
    public DbFixture()
    {
        // initializes ServiceProvider
    }
    
    
    protected virtual void Dispose(bool disposing)
    {
        if (!disposedValue)
        {
            if (disposing)
            {
                // dispose managed state (managed objects)
                ServiceProvider.Dispose();
                ServiceProvider = null;
            }

            // TODO: free unmanaged resources (unmanaged objects) and override finalizer
            // TODO: set large fields to null
            disposedValue = true;
        }
    }

    // // TODO: override finalizer only if 'Dispose(bool disposing)' has code to free unmanaged resources
    // ~DbFixture()
    // {
    //     // Do not change this code. Put cleanup code in 'Dispose(bool disposing)' method
    //     Dispose(disposing: false);
    // }

    public void Dispose()
    {
        // Do not change this code. Put cleanup code in 'Dispose(bool disposing)' method
        Dispose(disposing: true);
        GC.SuppressFinalize(this);
    }
}

The same pattern you need for the test class itself - it needs its own Dispose method (as shown for the DbFixture class above):

   public SQL_Tests(ITestOutputHelper output)
    {
        this.Output = output;
        var fixture = new DbFixture(); // NOTE: MS Dependency injection framework didn't initialize when the fixture was a constructor param, hence it is here
        _serviceProvider = fixture.ServiceProvider;
    } // method

So it needs to dispose its local property _serviceProvider in its own Dispose method, because the test class constructor SQL_Tests instanciated it.

1
votes

This question was the first result when looking for the following error:

Could not copy the file "..." because it was not found.

when building in Visual Studio 2013 (Update 3).

Solution: Uninstalling the "Productivity Power Tools" in Visual Studio 2013.

https://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/details/533411

1
votes

I didn't realize I still had my debugger attached and was trying to build in the same Visual Studio instance. Once I stopped the debugger I was able to build.

1
votes

Killing the vstest.executionengine.exe process(es) resolves this issue 90% of the time for me. If that doesn't work, then also killing QTAgent32.exe and then deleting the /bin and /obj folders for the project in question works.

This is the most irritating part of my work day. :)

1
votes

For me it was the Avast antivirus that wont let visual studio to write/read/execute file. So I had to add Visual studio 2010/2012 folder to antivirus exclusion list. And right after that baam... it works.

1
votes

Make sure u close all instances wcfSvcHost and try again. It worked for me!