can't delete file because file is in use

Anonymous
2013-02-22T12:34:36+00:00

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?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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.

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Anonymous
2017-06-18T21:52:58+00:00

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.

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-06-09T23:18:39+00:00

    Your personal attacks on this person are unwarranted.

    I'm trying to find a solution to the proposed problem, and your workaround doesn't work. I tried it.

    When I depress the almighty shift key in addition to pressing the delete button when I have a file selected, I am still prompted with the inquiry of whether or not I want to delete the file. No force deletion happens.

    Furthermore, as I said, this is a workaround. Not a solution.

    The problem at hand is in using windows 8, when a user has a the Preview Pane option available, any PDF that uses Adobe reader normally, can't then be deleted after it's been "previewed".

    Workarounds instructing people to stop using Preview Pane and to force delete the file are just that, workarounds, and not solutions.

    Force delete doesn't work for all computers, apparently.

    Telling users to simply stop using a feature is not a viable solution.

    Switching to another PDF reader to avoid the problem is not a viable solution.

    Microsoft Support, please review this problem and suggest a real solution. This is unacceptable for the time the issue has existed. I need to use preview pane, I need to use Adobe software. I do not want to force delete objects. Please provide a solution.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-05-28T22:28:22+00:00

    The truth is Microsoft sucks and does not care about Window users and neither does Adobe.  They do as little as possible while charging as much as possible.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-05-28T20:37:12+00:00

    How in the heck is this still not addressed?

    Cannot delete any PDFs without locking up Explorer. Totally unworkable.

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-05-28T17:24:03+00:00

    I have the same issues and concerns regarding scanned documents and the need to quickly preview files (PDFs) so they can be properly renamed, deleted or moved to specific folders on my network drive.  

    I'm operating Windows 8 and all Adobe related programs are kept up-to-date.  I tried the "shift-delete" option and it doesn't work when the preview pane is engaged; only works when the preview pane is turned off which completely misses the point.  I'm dumbfounded that some of the MS Engineers either fail to recognize the problem which has been so well articulated by many users or they believe the issue has been resolved by the alternative workarounds.  This issue is crippling the productivity for my office. and has me regretting the Windows 8 upgrade.  Previous versions of Windows did not behave this way.

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