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So whenever I'm in a file explorer window and I want to delete a file(eg PDF) I get a "File in use" message.
I've figured out that this is caused by the preview pane. No preview pane no message and the file deletes.
I want to know how I can delete a file with the preview pane active because I want to check the contents to make sure it's the correct file I want to delete?
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
Hi Gianluca,
This thread has been created on 2015 and was previously resolved. There has been a lot of changes since then and the resolution provided here may not be applicable anymore. Hence, we recommend you to create your own thread regarding your concern for assistance from our community.
If there's anything else, feel free to reach out to us.
As others have said this seems to be an issue with the way the Adobe Acrobat program handles the preview pane. As such I'm not entirely sure that this is a Microsoft bug, or an Adobe bug. I'm inclined to think this is an issue with Adobe.
I found a work around. Install the freeware program "PDF Previewer for Windows 8" and let it become the default PDF program, then go into "Default Programs" in Windows 8 and set Adobe Acrobat as the default again. This seems to leave the PDF previewer program as the program that handles the preview pane while still leaving Adobe as the default program when you open a PDF.
I have done this on 2 machines, and will probably roll it out to all my Windows 8 machines if I don't run into any further problems. The link to the download is below.
This is the only fix that isn't just a workaround. Thank you!
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I have windows 8.1 which is the worse version I have ever had. I have devised this method of deleting .pdf files. Crazy but it works! I make a new folder on the desktop. Then I drag the files I no longer need into that folder. Then I delete the new folder with the .pdf's in it. Bob
It didn't work first try for me - still gave me the incorrect file open message but after I went into Adobe and tried to open the file (which was no longer where the "Recently Used" thought it was, I went back and deleted the folder. The other two files I had in also went, even though I hadn't done anything to them.
Must be something to do with files in the Adobe "Recently Used" list. Maybe you could also open documents successively until the ones you want to remove drop off the list. I'll try that method next time I have the issue.
Thanks Bob
As others have said this seems to be an issue with the way the Adobe Acrobat program handles the preview pane. As such I'm not entirely sure that this is a Microsoft bug, or an Adobe bug. I'm inclined to think this is an issue with Adobe.
I found a work around. Install the freeware program "PDF Previewer for Windows 8" and let it become the default PDF program, then go into "Default Programs" in Windows 8 and set Adobe Acrobat as the default again. This seems to leave the PDF previewer program as the program that handles the preview pane while still leaving Adobe as the default program when you open a PDF.
I have done this on 2 machines, and will probably roll it out to all my Windows 8 machines if I don't run into any further problems. The link to the download is below.
