What are locked files?

[10ClarionSt]

I've just run AVG anti-virus and it has found some locked files. I don't know what these are so I don't want to just delete them. Can anyone advise please? TIA.

[koster]

A locked file is one which is being used by another program.

So, if you closed all your programs and ran the AVG scan again, you would probably find that it found no locked files or fewer locked files.

There are some files that are always locked (they are used by Windows itself). However, most anti-virus programs are clever enough to know about these.

For more information, see here:
http://ask-leo.com/why_cant_my_antivirus_progr am_open_certain_files.html

So the short answer is, don't delete them, because they are probably program or system files.

[bazwillrun]

First off you should do your scans in Safe Mode. Press F8 on boot up

Windows will have loads of locked files , they will be system files of various kinds and they are locked so that you cant delete them or muck them up easily.

Has AVG said that these locked files have infections and it cant remove them or is it just saying they are locked and cant check them ?