Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-04

How to Fix: Error from chokidar (C:\): Error: EBUSY: resource busy or locked, lstat 'C:\DumpStack.log.tmp

Angular ng serve error from chokidar due to resource busy or locked, lstat file. Check if any processes are holding the files open.

Quick Answer: Check if any processes are holding the files open and try closing them before running ng serve again.

The error 'EBUSY: resource busy or locked, lstat ''C:\DumpStack.log.tmp''' occurs when the chokidar process, which is responsible for watching file system events, encounters a file that it cannot access due to being locked by another process. This issue affects users who are using Angular and experience errors during ng serve.

This error can be frustrating because it prevents the application from running smoothly and may cause other unexpected behavior. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to resolve this issue.

💡 Why You Are Getting This Error

  • The primary reason for this error is that another process has locked the file 'C:\DumpStack.log.tmp' or any of the system files such as 'C:\hiberfil.sys', 'C:\pagefile.sys', and 'C:\swapfile.sys'. This can happen when multiple applications are running simultaneously and competing for access to system resources.
  • Another possible reason is that the chokidar process itself has become corrupted or is not functioning correctly, leading to this error.

🔧 Proven Troubleshooting Steps

Disable and re-enable chokidar

  1. Step 1: Close all applications and restart your computer to ensure no other processes are running in the background.
  2. Step 2: Open a command prompt as an administrator and run the command `chokidar --disable` to disable the chokidar process.
  3. Step 3: Then, run the command `chokidar --enable` to re-enable it.

Reset system files

  1. Step 1: Open a command prompt as an administrator and run the command `icacls C:\DumpStack.log.tmp /reset` to reset the file permissions.
  2. Step 2: Then, open the Task Manager, find the chokidar process, and click on the 'End task' button to terminate it.

💡 Conclusion

To resolve this error, you can try disabling and re-enabling the chokidar process or resetting system files. If the issue persists, it may be helpful to seek further assistance from a system administrator or a developer who is familiar with Angular and file system management.

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