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Any one else have this problem:
Been trying to have a clear out or sort out of files on my PC. Very often when I want to move or delete a file or folder the PC refuses, saying the file or folder is in use by another program. Each time only the window containing the file or folder is open. No other software is using the file or folder. Have had to resort to moving the files to an external drive and edit or delete from there. Seems to be the easiest way around it

Any ideas why this is happening?

One possibility is that the file hasn't been released by whatever you used to open it.  So if you opened a document with Word, say, had a look at it, decided that you don't want it, and closed it, especially if you left Word itself running, then the file will still be "busy".

I bet a pound to a penny you are on Windows 7 as this d**n thing kills me nearly everyday at work..
There are a number of reasons this happens but one thing we implemented that stopped a lot of this was to turn off Thumbnail caching.

See this article as it sumes it up better than me..  http://www.onlinecomputertips.com/windows/delete_folder.html

It may not be the cause of your issues as there are many reasons this can happen but give it a go..

With XP  there were programs you could use to unlock an in use file but I have not tried any with Windows 7.

But! if you started your computer in safe mode I am sure you could delete any file.

Another way would be to use the command promt but that is not for novices.

delete-file-command-prompt

Quote from: BarriedaleNick on October 13, 2012, 09:42:36
I bet a pound to a penny you are on Windows 7 as this d**n thing kills me nearly everyday at work..
There are a number of reasons this happens but one thing we implemented that stopped a lot of this was to turn off Thumbnail caching.

See this article as it sumes it up better than me..  http://www.onlinecomputertips.com/windows/delete_folder.html

It may not be the cause of your issues as there are many reasons this can happen but give it a go..

Thanks this makes a lot of sense. Did wonder about thumbnail caches. Under Xp you could tell windows to show all files and this file would appear, but can't see how to do it in 7.

You need to turn on "Show Hidden files"

In any explorer window
Click Tools - then Folder Options - then on the view tab - the option is about 6 down..

Folder Options is in Control Panel. Then Click on View.

Quote from: BarriedaleNick on October 14, 2012, 17:32:12
You need to turn on "Show Hidden files"

In any explorer window
Click Tools - then Folder Options - then on the view tab - the option is about 6 down..

Remembered how to do this last night. Folders already set to show all files. Thumb files not showing up either way. Problem still occurring.

Simply turning them so that they show wont do the trick you have to stop them doing the actual caching...(if this is the cause of your issues)

If you want to prevent Windows from caching the thumbnails altogether then you can edit your local group policy.

    Click on Start, then Run and type in gpedit.msc
    Browse to User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Explorer
    Look for Turn off the caching of thumbnails in hidden thumbs.db files in the list
    Once you find it, double click it to open its properties and then enable it and click Ok