Does IIS 6/7 lock image files whilst they're being served?

Question

I am writing a piece of .NET code which needs to overwrite image files in a website hosted on IIS 6 or 7. The only processes that should be touching the images are IIS and m

Answer 1

IIS will lock the files.

How about writing an HttpHandler for images, so that you have direct control over how the images are served and where from.

Since you then control how the images are served and how the images are replaced, all you need to design is a common locking mechanism to maintain order.