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
    2014-05-09T22:22:51+00:00

    Maybe Microsoft's own folks don't realize how freaking ridiculous it is that not only do they change the functionality of the basic programs, but they change the terms. So here, MS says "open Windows Explorer" Hello? My Windows 8 came with File Explorer. Which doesn' t have the same command menus as Windows Explorer. How does MS think that frustrating the **** out of its loyal users, and causing enormous productivity issues for days on end as we (and our employees) try to once again figure out where the damn gas pedal is. Gee, I wonder why people are migrating to Google.

    I can only assume they make $ from training and they make the changes to justify more training. Could you imagine evrytime Toyota updates the Corolla they changed how the radio worked, moved the gas pedal, changed the way you then the key, etc.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-05-12T00:34:24+00:00

    That didn't work.  Has anybody solved this? Thanks.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-05-23T12:29:30+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.

    What if it's already disabled and the problem persists?

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-05-26T03:34:34+00:00

    In addition to all the other solutions I've read about here and elsewhere (like changing caching of thumbnails in the Group Policy Editor, which is not available to Windows 8 Home users, and so forth and so on), I've discovered that one doesn't necessarily have to go all the way to restart, which many here and elsewhere have said is the only surefire way to fix this. 

    Instead I found that if I simply sign off my computer and then sign back in, the folder/file is also unlocked and can be deleted.

    Yes, that still means you have to save all your work before you sign off.  But it's still somewhat faster than a full restart. 

    I'd like to know if others, faced with this problem, find the sign off/sign on option less burdensome than the restart option.  Thanks!

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