BDE Busy

[dblarch]

After having saved my data files I exited Paradox 10. When I attempted to log off Windows 2000 Professional there was no apparent response. The Task manager showed no applications running; none were therefore 'Not Responding". I then attempted to restart Paradox and was informed that the BDE was busy. Ultimately, I rebooted by pressing the power button whereupon all applications opened and closed successfully except Paradox. It exhibited the same symptoms.

 

[jlockley]

Simple answer. When you did an unorthodox exit, Paradox did not delete/close the .lck and .net files it dribbles about your folders like a messy toddler with a big toy box, so now these are preventing you from getting back in the door. (Imagine, if you will, a big rubber Barney blocking it).

All you need to do is to find these misbegotten truant files and zap'em. Do a ctrl +F search (or go to settings and click on search or find or whatever it's called there) and enter p*.lck. Delete everything that comes up. Enter P*.net and do likewise. Start Paradox.

It's just a little messiness the good folks at Corel built in to keep us all chatting.

 

[footpad]

dblarch,

Adding a bit to jlockley's earlier reply, you originally received the "BDE is busy" error because you tried to start a second instance of Paradox (and BDE) that used the same private directory as the one already running.

Even though the first instance was no longer responding, BDE was loaded and had locked the private directory. By definition, you cannot use the same private directory in a second Paradox instance.

"BDE is busy" is the error that appear because of this problem.

As far as possible, you should not terminate a Paradox session or reset/restart the computer while Paradox is running. As jlockley noted, this leaves leftover lock files in your directories. While BDE has improved its ability to detect (and delete) these over the years, there are still a few situations where the built-in clean doesn't always find all the messes.

Thus, you need to periodically delete .LCK and .NET files. There is a free utility avilable for doing this from your Windows Startup folder. See

http://www.microps.com/mps/downloads.html

for more information.

Hope this helps...

-- Lance

 

[dblarch]

Thanks to jlockley and footpad. I'll do the house cleaning as recommended. The cuplrit may be the EXIT button I put on a form recently though it's worked before and since the BDE Busy episode; likely I did the ungraceful exit myself.

Thanks again,

dblarch