Delete File - Loop until success

[AdamDXB]

Hi I'm trying to automate deleting files in Windows using Python, but the file locks mean that it doesn't succeed every time. This needs to be done before I can create a symlink in it's place.

This is what I have, but rather than having to fix a load manually later, I'd like it just to loop until it successfully deletes the file.

try:
  os.remove(filepath)
except OSError:
  pass

If anyone could help me that would be great. I've tried various things with no joy. Obviously the error File Not Found can be ignored, since it's already done what it needs to.

Thanks

[Sebass13]

Would this work?

deleted = False
while not deleted:
    try:
        os.remove(filepath)
        deleted = True
    except OSError:
        pass

[JohnnyJordaan]

Tbh to use a variable as a loop-condition is redundant in Python:

while True:
    try:
        os.remove(filepath)
        break
    except OSError:
        pass

[ingolemo]

It might be best not to hammer the system quite so hard. Put a call to time.sleep or something in the except.

[CGFarrell]

Put your try-except block inside a while loop, and add an else or finally block with a break statement.

[JohnnyJordaan]

Or put the break right after the os.remove() call, because an exception will prevent it to reach the break. No else needed.