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

Most if not all of these suggestions have been covered, in some cases several times.

I seriously doubt any solution will arrive unless it comes directly from MS, I also believe that solution won't happen until Windows 10...

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.

i looked in my settings for your suggestion and that option was already disabled.  it does not seem to help.  it seems like the bug should be easy to fix.  if a file closes, there should be something in the code of the operating system that recognizes that it closes.  the operating system recognizes that it is open, so how hard would it be for the operating system to recognize that it is closed?  they should put some timer that can tell when a file closes.. if it does not completely close for some reason and x amount of time elapses, an error message pops up and gives the user the option to "hard close" it.    Is microsoft reading any of these threads?

What ive been doing lately i closing the window that contains the folders that wont move then reopeni g that same window. Then im able to move those folders.  Its kinda a pain but no more then any of these other remedies most of which dont work anyway.

I actually had to disable the "show preview handlers in a preview pane" in the Windows Explorer, options, view Tab.  I was then able to easily delete all my sticky files not deleting because I do have my preview pane setting to on.

Interesting... I'll definitely give that a try and report back. 

If others don't aren't clear about this:

In Explorer go to View Tab

Select Options button on right

Select the View tab on the Folder Options window

In the Advance Settings window deselect Show preview handlers in preview pane

This solved the problem in Win 8.1 for me.  Now I can rename multiple folders one after the other without having to distract explorer by selecting the properties of another folder entirely in-between renames.

@DaveMaddison, Your not quite jumping ship, more like settling for a ferry.

Nup its back again.  Very frustrating.  I hoped I'd found a way to keep the folder thumbnails and still be able to rename files.  Maybe it will be fixed in Windows 10.  MS are promoting it as the productive OS.   Do! rename your files without an in use error.