can't erase-flash with esptool because serial port busy

[sidtupper]

I flashed an esp32 with micropython then found I needed to code in C++. I figured that micropython was taking up space uselessly and when I tried to remove it with esptool erase_flash I got "Device is busy" from the Windows Thonny IDE. It won't let me use the COM port to stop it the running sketch. Admin level esptool, rebooting windows, rebooting the ESP, get the same result. What can I do to get past this? Thanks.

[sidtupper]

I installed esptools on a linux machine and erased the ESP32 flash, no problem. I wonder what why it didn't work under windows.

[chegewara]

You probably got opened debug window in arduino ide or other terminal which were using that port.