Python Windows Explorer Force Refresh - python-3.x

I have code, but it doesn't do what I want. I'm trying to delete thumbnail cache via Python script. If I have cache and explorer's open, some of the .db files won't delete because they're in use by explorer. Anyway, in my experimenting, the only way to do it is to change the advanced folder setting for displaying icons/thumbnails, and then restarting explorer. I can change the setting via script in the registry and then restart explorer. BUT, restarting explorer halts the script. So, I don't know. I also tried changing the setting and then sending the WM_SETTINGCHANGE message via SendMessageTimeout(). That didn't do the trick.
So, anyone have any idea how to unlock files (that are safe to delete) from explorer (this could also pertain to other in-use files) without restarting it? Also, I understand this is a sort of dumb project, but I have my reasons for doing it and it's what I want to do.

If I have cache and explorer's open, some of the .db files won't
delete because they're in use by explorer.
Because thumbcache.dll still has an open handle to the local thumbs.db file and does not currently implement a mechanism to release the handle to the file in a more dynamic and timely fashion.
They are only generated for compatibility with outdated applications, and are not required for Windows operations.
To work around the issue, enable User Group Policy setting for "Turn off the caching of thumbnails in hidden thumbs.db files":
Refer: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2025703?
Also, you can directly edit the registry. Refer:Let me fix it myself
Related: "The action can't be completed because the file is open in Windows Explorer"

Related

How to hard remove uninst.exe that is generated by NSIS?

I am using NSIS to write an installer for my windows application. After installing the application, an uninst.exe is also generated in my program directory. Later on I need to uninstall my program but I failed to do that in control panel. Therefore I went to the file system and tried to delete the directory. Everything other than that uninst.exe was removed. I've tried changing permission of this file and other methods but it doesn't work.
WriteUninstaller does not set file permissions or any other attribute that might prevent you from deleting it. It sounds like the file might still be in use by something on your machine.
Things to try:
Use Task Manager or Process Explorer to see if there is a uninst.exe process still running.
Use the find handle feature in Process Explorer to find any open handles to the file.
Use Process Monitor to get detailed information about the failed delete operation.
Check %LOCAL­APP­DATA%\Virtual­Store to make sure UAC Virtualization is not tricking you with "ghost" files.
Disable your Anti-Virus.
Reboot the machine and try to delete the file again.

OwnCloud Remove all files prompt

I have a owncloud server and the owncloud desktop client.What I want to do is to be able to delete things server wise and have it automatically delete from the pc. The problem is that the owncloud client displays a warning message of "Remove All Files"? with the choices of Remove all files or to keep files when the files are deleted from the server. Is there a way to not have the prompt come up and automatically remove all files?
In the version 2.2.3 (maybe earlier), you can change the configuration file to disable the prompt.
See the code where the prompt is invoked and the code showing the configuration file property.
If you edit (on Windows): c:\Users\myuser\AppData\Owncloud\owncloud.cfg and add the following, under the [General] section, you will no longer get the prompt.
promptDeleteAllFiles=false
The short answer: You cannot change this currently.
The long answer: The dialog was added as a safe-guard because there were cases where you could lose all your files unintentionally, e.g. if your admin re-created your account and left it empty. The client would assume the files had gone and would replicate this (it could not know better), so it would replicate the data removal locally. The code is still there today just to be safe.
If you are fearless, you can patch Folder::slotAboutToRemoveAllFiles(). Alternatively, you could open a bug report so we can solve this for everyone. What is your motivation to be able to do this without a prompt?
PS: The sources can be found on GitHub. URL and build instructions at http://doc.owncloud.org/desktop/1.5/building.html.
I have a script that processes the files that someone drops into ownCloud and it will then move them to the final storage place. However, this prompt stops the client from syncing until I manually log in to acknowledge it... I guess I will learn how to patch this.. Dropbox doesn't do this. Google Drive doesn't do this. But since I can't use cloud services (compliance issues), I have to use this solution until I can build a new secure upload means.

VS2012 detects change made outside VS and mark files checked out

On my VS2012 I noticed that if i edit a file that is not checked out in a notepad and save it, in TFs it will be marked as checked out and edited. So far we haven't found too much of a problem of it, but potentially people can get careless and make/save changes unintended.
Is there anyway to turn off that feature?
What you're seeing is now default behavior for Local Workspaces. One way to 'undo' this is to set your workspace to a server workspace once more. But I suggest you first investigate the benefits of local workspaces before deciding to turn it off. People still have to check in files, so there is a gate between changing the file and actually committing them to source control.

Win32: HtmlHelp doesn't work from a network share. What's the alternative?

Since 2005, when Microsoft prevented HtmlHelp functioning off a network share, e.g.:
\\appserver\tos\PointScanner.exe
\\appserver\tos\PointScanner.chm
What are we supposed to do instead?
(Given that the application is not installed locally.)
To rephrase: What is Microsoft's intended, supported, out-of-the-box, help solution?
You can allow access via the Registry setting described here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896054/
If you don't want to open any security vulnerabilities by modifying Registry settings your application could also create a local copy of the .chm file, e.g. in the users temp folder (%TMP%) and open the help from there. You can remove the file again when your application exits (in case you don't want to leave anything behind on the user's workstation)
I started with the registry change mentioned by divo. Eventually I moved from network folder based chm files to actual "html help". This was easy for me since I use RoboHelp which can generate either format from the same source code.

Getting the Windows CE uninstaller to work properly

On some of the devices that I am working on, the \Windows directory is not on permanent storage. That is, once the device is rebooted, whatever was written to \Windows is lost. This is particularly problematic for uninstalling programs since wceload.exe (the Windows CE CAB installer program) generates a .unload file and places it in \Windows. The application can be uninstalled before the device is rebooted, but afterward it can't (the "Remove Programs" tool in the control panel comes back with an error about not being able to open the unload file). So how can I get the .unload file to persist across reboots? Is there any way to control where the uninstaller (I believe it is called unload.exe) looks for the .unload file?
I haven't been able to find any good info on this still. It looks like the path to the unload file is hardcoded so the best I can do is make a backup of the unload file. If the user wishes to uninstall they will have to manually copy the file to the \windows directory and then use the uninstall tool in the control panel. Here is more info:
http://www.generation-nt.com/us/answer/wince5-force-wceload-install-unload-into-nonvolatile-memory-help-87676002.html
You can probably keep the .unload file across reboots by copying it to a persistent directory after installing. This directory may vary per device, e.g. \Hard Disk\ramroot\Windows or \Backup\Windows. It will then automatically be copied to the \Windows on reboot. (Although I am not sure whether such a directory and behavior exist for every device.)
To copy this file you need to execute a copy-statement from a custom setup-dll after the install completes. This codeproject-site has a very comprehensive explanation, with screenshots and code.
Simply re-Install application and then un-install from remove programs in control panel.

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