How to Fix ‘The Requested Resource Is In Use’ on Windows 10 or 7

Wondering how to fix ‘The Requested Resource is in Use” error on Windows 10 or 7 so you can open a program or copy a file? 

The above-stated error may occur when you are trying to open a program, remove an application, or perform a system scan using security software. 

 

 

This error occurs when:

• Another program occupies the application or program you are trying to move/open. 
• Your PC has been infected with a rootkit known as SmartService. 

The error messages can be of the following three types.

• Error Copying File or Folder: The requested resource is in use.
• [Drive] is not accessible. The requested resource is in use.
• [Path] The requested resource is in use. 

While the first reason does not seem to be too much of a problem, the second reason definitely is. A rootkit is a software that allows a malicious user to have full control over your computer. It can damage your computer, and your private information can be gathered as well. 

This guide will walk you through the process of fixing the ‘The Requested Resource is in Use” error on Windows 10 or 7 in detail. 

Let’s get straight into it. 

• 1. Enter Safe Mode with Networking 
• 2. Disable Preview Panel 
• 3. Run Windows Defender 
• 4. Remove Malicious Software/Program 
• 5. Registry Entry
• 6. Use System Restore 
• 7. Reinstall Windows 

 

1. Enter Safe Mode with Networking 

Before beginning to troubleshoot computer problems, it is essential to enter Safe Mode with Networking. This diagnostic mode offers the best environment for malware removal by allowing Windows to start with a modicum of resources.

To enter into Safe Mode in Windows 10 and Windows 7, follow the steps mentioned below:

1. Press the Windows key and R key on the keyboard together to open a Run window. 
2. Type msconfig in the window and click on the OK button. 

 

3. Doing so will open a System Configuration window. 
4. Click on the Boot tab at the top of the window. 
5. Mark the Safe Boot checkbox and select Network from the list of options available under it. 

 

6. Now click on OK. 
7. This will open a window to confirm the restart. Tap on Restart to operate your computer in Safe Mode. 

Using Safe Mode will allow you to remove malicious malware without damaging your system. You can now kill the SmartService using any anti-virus software such as Malwarebytes. 

 

 

2. Disable Preview Panel

If you have been receiving the “Error Copying File or Folder: The requested resource is in use” message, it might be because the Preview Panel on your website is enabled and is using the program. 

To disable it, follow the steps mentioned below:

1. Go to the File Explorer by pressing the Windows key and E key simultaneously. 
2. Click on the View tab on the menu.
3. Uncheck Preview Pane on the panes section. 

 

Doing so will allow you to open files and programs. It is also advised to check if another program is using the resource you want to open/move. If it is, close the program to use the resource. 

 

 

3. Run Windows Defender

If you do not want to remove the malicious software in the Safe Mode, you can run Windows Defender. It is an anti-virus program by Microsoft Windows that can detect viruses by scanning through your computer. 

Listed below are the steps to run Windows Defender on Windows 7 and Windows 10. 

Windows 7 

To run Windows Defender in Windows 7, follow the steps mentioned below. 

1. Open the Control Panel in the Classic View and click on Windows Defender. 

 

2. This will open a window stating that the defender is turned off. Click on ‘click here to turn it on’ to enable it. 
3. Now, open its application and click on Tools. 
4. Choose Options and select ‘Automatically Scan My Computer’ (recommended). 
5. To start scanning, select Scan from the menu bar and click on Quick Scan.

 

Doing so will enable Windows Defender on your computer, which will scan for malware regularly and ensure safety. 

 

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 Windows 10

To run Windows Defender in Windows 10, follow the steps mentioned below:

1. Type Windows Defender Security Center in the Search bar and open the application. 
2. Click on Virus & threat protection on the left panel of the application.

 

3. Tap on Advanced Scan and choose the option ‘Windows Defender Offline scan.’
4. Lastly, click on Scan now. 

This shall start scanning immediately and remove malware if found. 

 

 

4. Remove Malicious Software/Program 

In addition to the points mentioned above, you can also remove the malicious software/program by following the steps mentioned below. 

1. Type System Configuration in the search bar and click on it to open a new window. 
2. Click on Selective Startup on the new window and check the Load startup item option. 

 

3. Now, Click OK to save the settings. 
4. Restart your PC and access System Configuration again. 
5. Click on the Startup tab and disable items whose publisher is unknown. 

The programs with unknown publishers can be malware, so it is best to disable them if you want to protect your system. 

 

 

5. Registry Entry 

You can remove malicious entries using the Windows Registry Editor. To remove malware using this method, follow the steps mentioned below. 

1. Press the Windows key and R key simultaneously to launch the Run dialogue. 
2. Type Regedit in the dialogue window and click OK. 

 

3. Now, press Ctrl+F and type SmartService in the window’s search bar. 
4. Click Find Next and see if the system shows any malicious entries. 
5. Delete the malicious entries if you find any. If you are not sure that an entry is malicious, you can Google the term to confirm. 

Doing so will help you eliminate all the malicious entries on your computer. 

 

 

6. Use System Restore 

If you had the System Restore Point created in your PC before running into the ‘The Requested Resource is in Use’ error, you could use the point to resolve the issue. 

To use System Restore to solve the issue, follow the steps mentioned below: 

1. Type Control Panel in the search bar. 
2. Choose System and Security and click on System.

 

3. Find System Protection on the left panel and click on it. 
4. Select the appropriate restore point (before the SmartService infected your system) and follow the instructions on the screen. 

This process will restore the system and resolve the error. 

 

 

7. Reinstall Windows 

If the solutions mentioned above did not solve the issue, you should reinstall the Windows. It is crucial to back up all of your important data before reinstalling Windows on your computer.

Windows 7 

To reinstall windows in Windows 7, follow the steps mentioned below:

1. Type Recovery in the search bar and hit enter to lunch the window. 
2. Click on Advanced Recovery Methods and select Reinstall Windows (requires Window installation disc) to reinstall windows on your computer. 

 

3. The system will show a message asking if you want to back up your files. If you want to back up the files, click on Back up now. Otherwise, click Skip. 
4. Now, click on Restart and insert your Windows 7 installation disk. 
5. Finally, follow the instructions on the screen to successfully reinstall the windows. 

Once the window is reinstalled, you can try rerunning the program to see if it works fine now. 

 

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Windows 10 

To reinstall windows in Windows 10, follow the steps mentioned below. 

1. Search Settings in the search bar and click to open the window. 
2. Tap on Update & Security from the list of options on the screen. 

 

3. Now, select Recovery from the left panel and click Get Started. 
4. Finally, if you want to keep your files, click on Keep my Files and follow the screen’s instructions to start reinstallation. 

After the window is reinstalled, run the program now. Hopefully, there would be no issues. 

 

This brings us to the end of the article. We hope this guide on Fix: ‘The Requested Resource Is In Use’ on Windows 10 or 7  helped you solve the error on your PC. If none of the solutions solved this issue, you should contact Microsoft Support to connect with a professional.  Furthermore, check out our guide How to Upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 10 in VMware if you are looking for an upgrade. If you have any queries, feel free to drop them down in the comment section below. We’ll try to do the best we can.

 

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