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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.
Hi Martins,
Sorry for the delay in responding to your query.
We will not be able to delete a pdf file when we use preview pane in windows explorer as the file will use the associated program which will not allow us to delete it.
Reply us if you need any other assistance with Windows and we will be glad to assist.
This is clearly a bug (lack of foresight and poor programming) in Windows 8 and 8.1. It shouldn't matter that the preview pane is using any given app to preview the file, it should be able to delete the file, or even if it just queues it to be deleted once the file is moved away from. This is stupid and makes the preview pane pretty much useless. Why hasn't Microsoft addressed this issue?
It would be easy enough for the preview program to "close" the file and let it be deleted as the user wishes. There are several ways in which this could be accomplished.
I agree this is just annoying. I am forever adding preview and taking it off as I can not delete anything that shows a preview. Older Windows versions did not have this issue and I would hope Windows 8 is rectified so it does not either.
Absolutely the same here, I've had the issue since windows 7 (mow on 8.1) and I only use office, so there does appear to be a lack of communication somewhere. Hope this gets fixed or as previously stated preview is a useless feature.
I agree this is just annoying. I am forever adding preview and taking it off as I can not delete anything that shows a preview. Older Windows versions did not have this issue and I would hope Windows 8 is rectified so it does not either.
windows 7 and vista had the same problem.
its not like its a core OS function or anything. I'm sure microsoft will get round to it one of these days. Whilst thy're at it maybe they'd like to fix another bug introduced with vista - that of revealing a file an explorer window NOT being highlighted when that folder has not been opened before.
Oh in fact there are so many I'd be tempted to chuck the whole thing out, chalk it up to experience and start over
