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
    2015-03-28T18:51:35+00:00

    I agree.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-02-28T18:26:35+00:00

    It's not really a solution because it doesn't work for everyone.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-02-28T15:59:22+00:00

    Is this really a solution?!! If it is, then it is a pretty poor advert for Microsoft...

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-02-28T02:10:50+00:00

    In windows 8 in the view toolbar Press the Preview pane to turn preview pane off. 

    This opens a preview of the file which locks it from being deleted.

    This solved it for me... I had Preview Pane enabled and that's what was causing the never ending file locks. Come on Microsoft - Fix your buggy OS's - all you do is waste my time trying to figure out 'YOUR' bugs !!!

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