.NET StreamReader Won't Close

I'm using a RTF file as a template for an ASP.NET web application. My VB.NET code reads the file using a StreamReader, replaces some strings, and creates a new Word document with data from the database. My code closes and disposes of the StreamReader. However, when I attempt to upload a revised RTF file to the web server I get an error, "Cannot open the file for writing". So obviously the file remains open long after the ASP.NET page has run.

How can I force the StreamReader to close? Even editing the web.config file to force the web application to restart isn't enough to kill the lock on this file.

From stackoverflow

• It seems odd if it's hanging on even after a close/dispose. Are you using a FileStream along with the StreamReader? Generally, I use a FileStream to control access to the file and feed that to the StreamReader, a la:

  FileStream fsIn = new FileStream("path",FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read, FileShare.None);
  StreamReader srIn = new StreamReader(fsIn, System.Text.Encoding.Default);
  
  //...do stuff....
  
  srIn.close();
  srIn.Dispose();
  fsIn.close();
  fsIn.Dispose();
  

  Better yet, if you're limiting the use of your StreamReader to one method, stick the Close/Dispose in a Finally.

  Augusto Radtke : I would also suggest to use "using" directive.

  AJ : What can I say? I'm old fashioned :-)

  Augusto Radtke : That makes me think that I never really tested if Dispose() closes the stream, but I trust the documentation!

• consider using the "using" idiom, also available in VB.net

  using(StreamReader reader = new StreamReader(...)) {
  
  }
  

  the stream will get closed, even if exception is thrown

  Consider closing all IDisposable implementations like this

• Make sure the stream is closed in finally.

  FileStream fsIn = null;
  StreamReader srIn = null; 
  
  try
  {
    fsIn = new FileStream("path",FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read, FileShare.None);
    srIn = new StreamReader(fsIn, System.Text.Encoding.Default);
  
    //...do stuff....
  
  }
  catch (Exception ex)
  {
  }
  finally
  {
    srIn.close();
    srIn.Dispose();
    fsIn.close();
    fsIn.Dispose();
  }