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
    2015-10-21T19:05:30+00:00

    Silly that we have to do this every time in happens.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-10-31T16:35:42+00:00

    I don't know about other people's problem with moving files and invoking that error, but as for deleting files, I believe King Computer Solution's post:

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

    is the best solution.

    I think a good question to ask, maybe to narrow it down: Is "Preview Pane" active when the message is received by those performing the action that invokes the message?"

    This may be why Microsoft doesn't address it, because there's a solution and they probably figure that someone knows, or will eventually figure out and pass the word through these forums. Such as King Computer Solutions has done.

    It really was that simple. It was driving me nuts as well. After reading KCS's response it then made perfect sense. Because to be able to give a preview the file has to be "read," thereby invoking the message if an action is attempted on the file. For example, before finding this solution, I found that if I closed all of the folders, or the folder that the file was in, then the action would perform.

    Anyway, enough of my long-winded reply. Thanks for sharing KCS!!!

    P.S. I do think that's a valid question, so as to see if there's a common denominator with the issues. So again, to everyone with this problem: Is "Preview Pane" active when the message is received by those performing the action that invokes the message?" 

    And if it is try making it inactive, perform the action again, and report back whether that solved the issue or not. I'm curious to know.

    Cheers!

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-10-31T17:52:46+00:00

    Actually it's not a solution for everyone, for many the only solution is to reboot or sign out and back in.

    The problem is the file stays in use or was already in use before you even touched it and at that point it can not be moved, removed or deleted.

    I have been able to delete the contents of the folder and then delete the folder but sometimes the contents are in use and therefore cannot be deleted.

    Preview has never been enabled on my PC 8.1, however there has been the occasion that by leaving the file and folder alone for a period of time I can then delete it.

    Indexing could be the problem but I have never turned it off to validate this.

    I was hoping this would be corrected in W10 but I uninstalled W10 30 minutes after I installed it because it sucked for many reasons including MS control of updating.

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-10-31T18:42:41+00:00

    Wow! That's crazy!

    That's interesting about the indexing, because I've been having issues with that also. It takes up to 35% of my CPU resources with very little file use.

    Since the Preview Pane has never been active, what about having a file checked? Is a file checked when you attempt the action? That may also be interpreted as an "in use" error generator?

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