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
    2014-11-12T15:15:42+00:00

    WHY? This makes the preview pane useless if you have to turn it off all the time in order to delete something. Besides that, it doesn't work right away!

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-11-11T15:01:13+00:00

    This was the solution for me.  A simple behind-the-scenes fix for this ought to be included in a Windows 8.1 update.  This is 11/11/2014, and I didn't realize this has been a problem for so long.  I can't see any reason why the user should be locked from deleting a file when preview pane is selected in the View toolbar.  The OS should be intuitive enough to override whatever coding or graphics issue that would arise from doing that.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-11-06T15:59:57+00:00

    A year later having this problem.

    To be clear:

    This PC > view > options > view tab > scroll down and uncheck Show preview handlers in preview pane.

    Why has this not been patched? Horrible. I despise Windows 8 for shipping like this.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-10-09T11:18:27+00:00

    I say go with the knackers option. There's no one solution. The results are random. The OS is rubbish. 

    Easiest solution I found was to open the video and audio files that I couldn't move and then just play/close and it lets you move the file no problem

    Not tried this with any other type of file though

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