os error 32?

[daranzolin]

Description

I have been running the same Quarto reports for over a year, and today I am suddenly getting Error: The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process. (os error 32). I haven't changed anything. It's a fairly complex project within a targets pipeline, so before I try and create a reprex, can someone help me brainstorm possible reasons? I haven't updated Quarto, changed the code, or any file paths, etc.

[cscheid]

Some other process is attempting to open the file at the same time, and Windows doesn't like that. We haven't changed anything about that on our side either - maybe your OS upgrade caused something like anti-virus scanners to be more active?

[mcanouil]

Thanks for ruling this out as it was the most common case (also with os error 1920).

• OS ERROR 32 & OS ERROR 145 when using Quarto on a Dropbox directory. SOLUTION: Use local folder.  #4670

[mcanouil]

Since you stated the issue happen on your local computer hard drive, would you mind try with a simple document to reproduce? In case it's something from your document.

---

R	Python
````qmd --- title: "Reproducible Quarto Document" format: html engine: knitr --- This is a reproducible Quarto document. {{< lipsum 1 >}} ```{r} x <- c(1, 2, 3, 4, 5) y <- c(1, 4, 9, 16, 25) plot(x, y) ``` {#fig-placeholder} {{< lipsum 1 >}} The end after @fig-placeholder. ````	````qmd --- title: "Reproducible Quarto Document" format: html engine: jupyter --- This is a reproducible Quarto document. {{< lipsum 1 >}} ```{python} import matplotlib.pyplot as plt x = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] y = [1, 4, 9, 16, 25] plt.plot(x, y) plt.show() ``` {#fig-placeholder} {{< lipsum 1 >}} The end after @fig-placeholder. ````

[daranzolin]

This renders fine. If I had to guess, it's related to the presence of nested content via knitr::knit_expand() and knitr::knit_child(), since the only reports that get this error have lots of child documents.

[mcanouil]

Unfortunately, without the means to reproduce on our side with a small and simple example, it's going to be very hard to help.

[daranzolin]

When I remove the chunks (or just eval=FALSE) with knitr::expand() and knitr::knit_child() the reports render.

[daranzolin]

Moving this outside the replies. When I try and execute a qmd with knitr::knir_expand() and knitr::knit_child() I get the following error:

Error: The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process. (os error 32), remove 'C:\<redacted>\Documents\Projects\<redacted>_files\execute-results'
    at Object.removeSync (deno:runtime/js/30_fs.js:157:9)
    at removeIfExists (file:///C:/<redacted>~1/AppData/Local/Programs/Quarto/bin/quarto.js:5681:14)
    at removeFreezeResults (file:///C:/<redacted>~1/AppData/Local/Programs/Quarto/bin/quarto.js:86413:5)
    at renderExecute (file:///C:/<redacted>~1/AppData/Local/Programs/Quarto/bin/quarto.js:86501:9)
    at async renderFiles (file:///<redacted>~1/AppData/Local/Programs/Quarto/bin/quarto.js:86593:51)
    at async renderProject (file:///<redacted>~1/AppData/Local/Programs/Quarto/bin/quarto.js:86800:25)
    at async Command.fn (file:///C:/<redacted>~1/AppData/Local/Programs/Quarto/bin/quarto.js:90856:32)
    at async Command.execute (file:///C:/<redacted>~1/AppData/Local/Programs/Quarto/bin/quarto.js:8437:13)
    at async quarto (file:///C:/<redacted>~1/AppData/Local/Programs/Quarto/bin/quarto.js:127545:5)
    at async file:///C:/<redacted>~1/AppData/Local/Programs/Quarto/bin/quarto.js:127563:9

[cscheid]

Sounds good, and thanks. Unfortunately, there isn't much we can do until we can try it on our own side.

[cderv]

Thanks for sharing the stack trace. It seems related to freezing process. Somehow, the execute-results can't be removed.

@cscheid it makes me thing about the problem I am trying to resolve in this PR:

• windows - wait to file to unlock for removal #10629

OS locking conflict while Deno is trying to remove a directory. It happens for me sometimes with mediabag in VSCODE context.

So I am wondering if this is somewhat the same type of issue where OS is for whatever reason still on lock with the file while Deno is trying to remove it and can't.

[daranzolin]

I did some more testing, and I'm now pretty convinced it's related to the quantity of child content spawned at the deepest level in the parent-child hierarchy. When I reduce it to five groups, it renders every time. It fails at six groups every time.

Edit: more likely it's related to either (1) removing the reactable tables from the child documents; or (2) the downloadthis extension is looking for files that perhaps don't exist.

[mcanouil]

downloadthis extension

What do you mean here? The R package, the Quarto extension? Something else?

At some point, you'll have to provide concrete example of your setup.
I suggest you remove pieces one at a time to end up with something small that could be share.
We can keep guessing but it won't get us close to an actual solution (except if we are lucky).

I suggest you update this thread when you have something we can work on.

[daranzolin]

@mcanouil Understood. See above.

At each level a different {reactable} table is generated, along with {downloadthis} buttons

[xx02al]

Hi
I am aware that pre-release builds are intended for testing purposes, and are not recommended for general use. Nevertheless, I thought it may help to make you aware of the following. With quarto v1.7.16 quarto render in the terminal errors as illustrated next (the path is shortened). I observed it on a windows machine.

Error occured during cleanup: Error: The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process. (os error 32), remove 'C:\...\Temp\quarto-sessionid'

This occurs with Positron as well as on RStudio. I tried it an can confirm downgrading quarto to 1.6.42 helps have things working without any error - using version v1.7.16 has this issue.

Below are some reprex files with which I can observe it. Can you reproduce the issue, do you know a reason and how to fix it!?

_quarto.yml

project:
  type: book

book:
  title: "another-book"
  author: "Norah Jones"
  date: "2025-03-14"
  chapters:
    - index.qmd
    - intro.qmd
    - summary.qmd
    - references.qmd

bibliography: references.bib

format:
  html:
    theme:
      - cosmo
      - brand
  pdf:
    documentclass: scrreprt

index.qmd

# Preface {.unnumbered}

This is a Quarto book.

To learn more about Quarto books visit <https://quarto.org/docs/books>.

intro.qmd

# Introduction

This is a book created from markdown and executable code.

See @knuth84 for additional discussion of literate programming.

references.bib

@article{knuth84,
  author = {Knuth, Donald E.},
  title = {Literate Programming},
  year = {1984},
  issue_date = {May 1984},
  publisher = {Oxford University Press, Inc.},
  address = {USA},
  volume = {27},
  number = {2},
  issn = {0010-4620},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/comjnl/27.2.97},
  doi = {10.1093/comjnl/27.2.97},
  journal = {Comput. J.},
  month = may,
  pages = {97–111},
  numpages = {15}
}

references.qmd

# References {.unnumbered}

::: {#refs}
:::

summary.qmd

# Summary

In summary, this book has no content whatsoever.

[andreashandel]

@cderv here's a bit more information:

TLDR: The Windsurf Extension that I use for AI support is the problem.

Details:

I tried to replicate the problem on a different, very similarly configured computer. It "works", i.e. I get the same error doing the following:

• Cloning the above referenced repo to my local Windows machine.
• Opening the repo with Positron (build 167), running Quart 1.7.32.
• Going into the terminal and typing 'quarto render'. Below is the full error message, labelled with 1.

Curiously, sometimes (I don't know when/why), the same error message shows up right at the beginning of the rendering process. I placed one of these below, labelled with 2.

I do get the same error when I run Quarto through the command palette (though I got it to work once, but then I tried again and the error came back).

The extensions I have running (other than those that come pre-installed) that might be relevant: Windsurf, GitHub PR (the other computer has more, but the one also producing error messages just has those currently running).

I tried to turn the extensions off. And it seems that the Windsurf Plugin is the problem. After I turn it off, I can render on both computers without getting the error message (tried multiple times on each machine). Then I turned it back on, the error message comes back.

So I guess my simple fix is to temporarily disable Windsurf AI support before rendering. And long-term waiting for the built-in Positron AI assistant :)

############## Error 1
PS C:\Data\GitHub\andreashandel\SISMID2025> quarto render
[ 1/13] Course_Communication.qmd
[ 2/13] Course_Project.qmd
[ 3/13] Course_Resources.qmd
[ 4/13] Course_Schedule.qmd
[ 5/13] Course_Syllabus.qmd
[ 6/13] andreas-presentations\building-your-brand-presentation\2025-SISMID-building-your-brand.qmd
[ 7/13] andreas-presentations\introduction-to-modeling\introduction-to-modeling-slides.qmd
[ 8/13] andreas-presentations\modeling-bacterial-infections\2025_Bacteria_Models_Slides.qmd
[ 9/13] andreas-presentations\modeling-coinfections\2025-modeling-coinfections-slides.qmd
[10/13] andreas-presentations\modeling-macroparasites\2025-modeling-macroparasites-slides.qmd
[11/13] andreas-presentations\modeling-vaccines-drugs\2025_Vaccines_Drugs_Slides.qmd
[12/13] andreas-presentations\modeling-viral-infections\2025_Virus_Models_Slides.qmd
[13/13] index.qmd

ERROR: The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process. (os error 32): rename 'C:\Data\GitHub\andreashandel\SISMID2025\andreas-presentations\modeling-viral-infections\2025_Virus_Models_Slides.html' -> 'C:\Data\GitHub\andreashandel\SISMID2025\docs\andreas-presentations\modeling-viral-infections\2025_Virus_Models_Slides.html'

Stack trace:
at Object.renameSync (ext:deno_fs/30_fs.js:267:3)
at safeMoveSync (file:///C:/Program Files/Quarto/bin/quarto.js:2354:14)
at renderProject (file:///C:/Program Files/Quarto/bin/quarto.js:87372:17)
at eventLoopTick (ext:core/01_core.js:175:7)
at async Command.actionHandler (file:///C:/Program Files/Quarto/bin/quarto.js:91975:32)
at async Command.execute (file:///C:/Program Files/Quarto/bin/quarto.js:8253:13)
at async Command.parseCommand (file:///C:/Program Files/Quarto/bin/quarto.js:8143:20)
at async quarto (file:///C:/Program Files/Quarto/bin/quarto.js:133948:9)
at async file:///C:/Program Files/Quarto/bin/quarto.js:133978:9
at async file:///C:/Program Files/Quarto/bin/quarto.js:133830:20
####### End Error 1

####### Error 2
PS C:\Data\GitHub\andreashandel\SISMID2025> quarto render
ERROR: The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process. (os error 32): remove 'C:\Data\GitHub\andreashandel\SISMID2025\docs'

Stack trace:
at Object.removeSync (ext:deno_fs/30_fs.js:250:3)
at safeRemoveSync (file:///C:/Program Files/Quarto/bin/quarto.js:2369:14)
at removeIfExists (file:///C:/Program Files/Quarto/bin/quarto.js:5009:9)
at renderProject (file:///C:/Program Files/Quarto/bin/quarto.js:87257:17)
at eventLoopTick (ext:core/01_core.js:175:7)
at async Command.actionHandler (file:///C:/Program Files/Quarto/bin/quarto.js:91975:32)
at async Command.execute (file:///C:/Program Files/Quarto/bin/quarto.js:8253:13)
at async Command.parseCommand (file:///C:/Program Files/Quarto/bin/quarto.js:8143:20)
at async quarto (file:///C:/Program Files/Quarto/bin/quarto.js:133948:9)
at async file:///C:/Program Files/Quarto/bin/quarto.js:133978:9
####### End Error 2

[cderv]

As this is a locked file issue, this is definitely possible that Windsurf AI is the culprit by accessing the file at the same time as Quarto.

Positron Assistant is now in Preview if you want to give it a try: https://positron.posit.co/assistant.html

[michalovadek]

just a +1 on this: I get the same error on Windows without any AI assistant on but only in the post-render cleanup of temp files (e.g. AppData\Local\Temp\quarto-session2528fa37a846f479). This happens consistently across Quarto projects when rendered in Positron but not in RStudio

[cderv]

@michalovadek can you provide a project where this happens consistently for you ? And also system information so we can reproduce in a similar environment ?

Which version of Positron and Quarto extension are you using ?

I use this IDE too and don't have the issue. So what we can get from the "this is windsurf AI extension" is that some VSCODE extension may interact with filesystem at the same time as quarto cleaning.

I'll try to build you a version with the PR I tried so that you can test.

[michalovadek]

I get Error occurred during cleanup: Error: The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process. (os error 32): remove 'C:\Users\me\AppData\Local\Temp\quarto-session19b9f2822e75451a' from the following reproducible flow on my machine:

1. create new, empty folder
2. open folder in Positron
3. run quarto::quarto_create_project(name = ".", title = "test-os-error") and confirm (Y)
4. run quarto::quarto_render()

so just to be clear, the file gets rendered fine, just the temp files are not cleaned up.

quarto_version: ‘1.7.17’

Positron About:

Positron Version: 2025.10.0 (system setup) build 199
Code - OSS Version: 1.103.0
Commit: 81d0c98dbf719e29097b9c700877398d7af13138
Date: 2025-10-09T17:53:25.533Z
Electron: 37.2.3
Chromium: 138.0.7204.100
Node.js: 22.17.0
V8: 13.8.500258-electron.0
OS: Windows_NT x64 10.0.22631

Sys.info:

   sysname        release        version       nodename        machine          login           user effective_user 
 "Windows"       "10 x64"  "build 22631"   "xx"       "x86-64"      "x"      "x"      "x" 

sessionInfo:

R version 4.4.3 (2025-02-28 ucrt)
Platform: x86_64-w64-mingw32/x64
Running under: Windows 11 x64 (build 22631)

Matrix products: default

locale:
[1] LC_COLLATE=English_United Kingdom.utf8 LC_CTYPE=English_United Kingdom.utf8 LC_MONETARY=English_United Kingdom.utf8 LC_NUMERIC=C LC_TIME=English_United Kingdom.utf8

time zone: Europe/London
tzcode source: internal

attached base packages:
[1] stats graphics grDevices utils datasets methods base

loaded via a namespace (and not attached):
[1] digest_0.6.37 R6_2.6.1 later_1.4.2 fastmap_1.2.0 xfun_0.52 knitr_1.50 htmltools_0.5.8.1 rmarkdown_2.29 lifecycle_1.0.4 ps_1.9.1 cli_3.6.5 processx_3.8.6 compiler_4.4.3
[14] rstudioapi_0.17.1 tools_4.4.3 quarto_1.5.1 evaluate_1.0.3 yaml_2.3.10 Rcpp_1.1.0 rlang_1.1.6 jsonlite_2.0.0

[xx02al]

Quarto 1.9.8 errors when previewing R package vignettes

Hey @cderv, when we try to preview a quarto vignette we get

ERROR: The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process. (os error 32): remove 'C:\Users\user\path\to\pkg\vignettes\.quarto'

Here's how you can reproduce it:

library(devtools)
create_package("~/path/to/pkg")
use_vignette("my-vignette")

In the DESCRIPTION file set

VignetteBuilder:
    quarto

Modify the vignette to at least be quarto format. For example copy the head of https://github.com/r-lib/pkgdown/blob/main/vignettes/quarto.qmd and change the file format from .Rmd to .qmd.

Trying to preview the quarto vignette errors as described.

For the purposes of this report, I tried out several Quarto projects (book, website, standard) and can confirm that everything works perfectly with the templates.

[xx02al]

I am working in Positron (2025.10.1 build 4) and this error appears in the terminal. It appears also if I follow: remove 'C:\Users\user\path\to\pkg\vignettes\.quarto', i.e., delete that, and I am also not deliberately doing anything with contents of the \.quarto folder.

[cderv]

And outside of Positron, you probably do not have this problem right ?

One recent user found that is windsurf extension was the problem (#10775 (reply in thread))

So I don't have a fix right now, except thinking about how we can protect against that.
But this is a Windows OS file locking problem that we need to handle.

[xx02al]

Yes, I could go to RStudio and render the vignette properly.
I don't have the windsurf extension installed.

[andreashandel]

@cderv I just want to add that I also regularly get this kind of error message if I operate inside a folder that is controlled by some sync service (e.g. Dropbox, OneDrive). I always pause syncing when I know I need to do a bunch of Quarto rendering. I had turned it off but still got the error, that's why I initially posted the question above, until I realized that Windsurf is apparently another program that monitors and 'locks' files. It seems there are a number of programs that 'grab on' to files produced during the whole quarto render pipeline, which can cause issues.

[cderv]

It seems there are a number of programs that 'grab on' to files produced during the whole quarto render pipeline, which can cause issues.

Yes - it seems to be a Windows limitations with file operation, and Deno filesystem operation does not seems to handle locking correctly on their own. I don't know if we do something wrong, or if we are just not helped by Deno and must find a way to protect against that. #10629 is maybe helpful - but if did not felt that efficient. I'll try to build a new special version for you to try maybe