the action can't be completed because the folder or a file in it is open in another program

Anonymous
2013-03-21T10:22:13+00:00

this is annoying

the files or folders in question are not open in another program, windows is just refusing to let them be moved or deleted due a recent action ie: photographs moved elsewhere etc

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
2013-03-21T10:43:05+00:00

This may also be helpful:

Open Windows explorer.

Click ‘Organize -> Folder and search options’ (or ‘View -> Folder options’).

Select the ‘View’-tab.

In the ‘Advanced settings’ window, disable ‘Launch folder windows in a separate process’.

You may need to force restart all explorer instances (via task manager) or reboot your computer if the setting is not applied immediately.

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-07-25T04:56:14+00:00

    Useless advice.  It is not enabled.  Windows 10 sucks at this.  It hangs on to everything.  Refuses to grant Ownership to the f'g OWNER!  It causes me hours per week that never happened on 7 Pro.  Total garbage.

    In fact, since I dual boot, sometimes I have to go back to W7 and get the job done.  Unfortunately many times I can't if files in question are denied access from the other user account.  W10 needs a major fix on access and permissions.  I want a faithful servant not an authoritarian despot.

    RCL

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-05-13T15:08:44+00:00

    Would Sataya buy a Toyota expecting to operate it similarly?  I think not.  He'd never get anywhere.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-03-31T07:55:02+00:00

    Из-за дурной головы, ногам нет покоя!

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-03-04T13:09:39+00:00

    Hi guys.

    I've been having the same problem and the following method worked for me.

    I know is not a professional behavior but have in mind that we are affording a non solved bug, so anything that works can help. I code in VB.net and this trick  does the job for me:

    3:

            Try

                If My.Computer.FileSystem.DirectoryExists("My directory path") = True Then                                                                                  'check if directory exists (or file with FileExists) 

                My.Computer.FileSystem.DeleteDirectory("My directory path", _            

               FileIO.UIOption.OnlyErrorDialogs, _

               FileIO.RecycleOption.SendToRecycleBin)         'try to eliminate

                End If

            Catch                                                                      'in case of error

                Application.DoEvents()                                     'let the OS work

                Thread.Sleep(100)                                             'wait 100 ms

                GoTo 3                                                               'try again

            End Try

    I used in a VirtualBox with Windows 8 x64 installed (with very low RAM)

    I haven't count the times that must try, but in a slow machine seems to have no delay.

    I hope it helps.

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