public Boolean TryAcquireLock() { if (!LockHelper.LockExists(Path)) { return(AcquireLock()); } FileLockContent content = LockHelper.ReadLock(Path); //Someone else owns the lock if (content.GetType() == typeof(OtherProcessOwnsFileLockContent)) { return(false); } //the file no longer exists if (content.GetType() == typeof(MissingFileLockContent)) { return(AcquireLock()); } DateTime writeTime = new DateTime(content.Timestamp); //This lock belongs to this process - we can reacquire the lock if (content.PID == Process.GetCurrentProcess().Id) { return(AcquireLock()); } //The lock has not timed out - we can't acquire it return(Math.Abs((DateTime.Now - writeTime).TotalSeconds) > Timeout.TotalSeconds && AcquireLock()); }