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
    2015-04-20T01:03:10+00:00

    Restarting Windows Explorer has been mentioned several times through out the thread, folks here are looking for a solution from MS.

    I hope it will be addressed in W10....

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-04-20T17:47:36+00:00

    Late to this party, but the POINT is, it doesn't show you which folder or file is theoretically open. It could be any of dozens or more. If the solution were that simple, then we would just do it.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-04-21T03:46:52+00:00

    It's April, 2015 and this is STILL an issue.  I should not have to kill tasks, reboot, do this or that....  Microsoft should FIX this!!!!  It worked for 20+ years until they broke it!

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-04-25T21:16:29+00:00

    I am signing out of this thread now as I have saved enough to buy a second hand mac. My pc will be sold and I will say goodbye to Microshit and windows forever. I have stuck with it for years thinking that they may help us get it right. But no, MS think of themselves only; when we contact them with a query they expect us to pay to put their mistakes right.....I paid for the bag of **** called word 365. Utter ****. I have to sign in everytime I use it...and it does not 'recognise ms word documents;.......' I've paid for it you ****!!!!!  Rant over. Good luck, Stalwarts. I reckon more will jump ship to Mac soon.

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