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
    2013-11-19T23:57:54+00:00

    I agree with wakenight (and thank you!). While this is not a permanent fix, it is the shortest, easiest, and "least costly" of them all!

    You can close and re-open without having to shut everything down, re-start, etc.

    Besides that, the next best thing is come into a ton of money and switch to Apple. Hey, that's greeeeaaatt...

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-11-26T20:23:51+00:00

    The 'Launch folder windows in a separate process' is already unchecked...

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-11-27T21:08:18+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.

    WOW!   Thank you, just a simple little click!  That was bugging me because I was scanning documents and merging them through Adobe, then wanted to delete the saved items as they were now one file.   I then wanted to delete the single files....it kept saying that and I had no idea.  Pressing Preview pane to turn it off worked!!  THANK YOU!

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-11-30T04:02:57+00:00

    It seems Windows Explorer is the program that has the folder open, which won't allow Windows Explorer to delete the folder.  Not only does the right hand not know what the left hand is doing, it seems to be blocking it!

    I found an easy workaround that doesn't require changing settings.

    Choose another subfolder in the directory list and press "Ctrl-C" to act as if you are going to copy the folder.  This somehow changes the focus of Windows Explorer away from the folder you can't delete. 

    Next, right-click the folder that you couldn't delete, and it more than likely be gracefully dispatched to the Recycle Bin.

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