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General => Technical Help => Topic started by: wilcoxon on Friday 30 March 18 13:45 BST (UK)
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I have done a large amount of research on one family and have folders within folders.
I can`t rename the folders. I`m on Windows 8.1, I`ve tried moving them to another location but still get the same message.
Folder in use , close down, . the main named folder is in Documents, and the one I`m trying to rename is in another folder. ::)
I`m totally baffled especially as it only seem to be this one that I`m having an issue with.
Any ideas please.
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To state the obvious (in case you haven't tried that), have you rebooted the PC? I sometimes get this when deleting or renaming a file and its usually because Windows is holding an application open in memory even though it would appear to be closed and that application is holding the folder open. A reboot will often resolve it.
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Thanks but that didn`t work, re started and then closed down completely and booted up.
It still won`t let me rename , I looked at the “properties” but really can`t see anything there that might cause a problem, and anyway I`ve not changed any settings.
So annoying.
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If all else fails, create a new (sub)folder with the new name, select and copy the files from the old folder and past them into the new folder. When you're sure all the files are in the new folder, delete them in the old folder. The old folder will then be 'empty' and can usually be deleted without problems.
Mike
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Grrrrrrrrr, it won`t let me do that. I deleted the shortcut on the desktop. Made a new folder in Documents, tried to move folders I want to the new folder, and it`s back to square one.
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I haven't had this problem for some time and in those cases managed to work out which programme was the culprit fairly easily, so I've no helpful advice at the moment.
Just one question, what does it say under 'More Details'?
It wouldn't by any chance list the programmes using the file would it? (I have no idea what's usually there and can't recreate your problem to find out.)
Hope you can sort it. I know I found it very irritating.
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Have you tried moving files one at a time to the new folder? . . . eventually you should find the one that is "in use". But if the whole folder is in use, that won't work of course :-\
Another possibility is a hidden system file causing the problem.
Or possibly there's a program automatically starting up when you reboot?
Can't think of anything else at the moment . . . sorry :(
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I haven't had this problem for some time and in those cases managed to work out which programme was the culprit fairly easily, so I've no helpful advice at the moment.
Shouldn't be an issue if you reboot.
Another possibility is a hidden system file causing the problem.
Or possibly there's a program automatically starting up when you reboot?
That would be the most likely reason that they are still held open after a reboot.
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I wouldn't expect that error message and normally you can rename, but have the subfolders got very long names along with the file names within? There is a maximum number of characters than Windows allows for a number of actions, although it will allow you often to save even when the total number of characters in the folder/file path is exceeded. Normally long file names is only an issue when deleting or moving rather than renaming but may be worth trying to shorten one of the folder names to say a single character to try. If you try and move a folder that's path exceeds the total number of permissible characters (includes names of all folders above from the root of c drive) then it will stop you but again I wouldn't expect that message but sometimes you don't always get the message you'd expect. Mind you its possible even if you shorten one folder that it could still be too long a path.
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Grrrrrrrrr, it won`t let me do that. I deleted the shortcut on the desktop. Made a new folder in Documents, tried to move folders I want to the new folder, and it`s back to square one.
It won't because something is "still in use"....
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I`ve even tried renaming without opening the folder in Documents, just using the list, where else can it be in use. I`m baffled.
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It won't because something is "still in use".... and the pathway to it can not be moved while it is "still in use". because the computer notes where it came from and where it is to be returned to!!
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If you Google "the action cannot be completed because the file is open in another program windows 8"
there are a number of answers on how to fix it..
Stan
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I'm running a different version but this might work for you.
When this happens to me I open Task Manager, go to Applications, select the one that is supposedly open and then press End Task. Then close Task Manager.
It might take about a minute to take effect but that usually does the trick for me.
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this problem happens frequently to me, using 8.1
I used to curse it but that didn't work ! ;D ;D ;D
I found that if I close down all open folders even if nothing to do with what I'm doing, and wait a few moments, it then is usually OK when I reopen the file in question.
Mine happens when I am transferring newspaper scans for Ryerson Index work. I send some to a Dropbox file and keep another copy on my computer plus one on a USB. A couple of nights ago I noticed that I still had one of the folders open, that I had copied a file into from the one I was trying to rename. When I closed that folder I had copied into, it let me do what I wanted with the original one. So somehow the computer 'thought' the file was in use even though not in that folder!
Must be a quirk of 8.1 ??? ???
Dawn M
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Just uplugging a USB drive without using the "remove hardware" option might confuse the operating system. I am guilty myself though. It saves a whole second every time.
Martin
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Wilcoxon, your file naming convention made me laugh.
Martin
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Yes, that's why I suggested copying and pasting files, rather than moving them. At least one file in the folder is flagged (perhaps wrongly) as "in use" by a program. That means you can't change the folder name or move the file to a different folder. The "program" needs to be able to update the file in the original folder (where it "remembers" it is). That's why Windows stops you from changing the folder or filename or moving or deleting the file As long as a file is flagged as being 'in use" by a program, it and its folder address are protected.
Copying doesn't change the file or the folder name. You may get a warning that a file is 'in use' but since you're not changing anything, just making a copy, you should be able to do this and paste the files into a new folder. When you try to delete the files in the 'old folder' you'll get an error message for just the files that are flagged as being 'in use'. At least you'll then know which file it is. It's often easier to resolve 'protection' issues for individual files rather than for folders in which one of 50-100 is flagged as 'in use'.
Mike
Grrrrrrrrr, it won`t let me do that. I deleted the shortcut on the desktop. Made a new folder in Documents, tried to move folders I want to the new folder, and it`s back to square one.
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Here are some more tips: https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/how-to/windows/how-delete-file-in-use-windows-rename-locked-corrupt-3605330/ (https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/how-to/windows/how-delete-file-in-use-windows-rename-locked-corrupt-3605330/)
Mike
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Wilcoxon, your file naming convention made me laugh.
Martin
I`m not sure what this means ;)
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Thanks for all the suggestions, I did have a Google around last night and found this.
https://www.biology-it.iastate.edu/solution-cannot-rename-file-because-folder-or-file-it-open-another-program
In all my folders there are Word docs, PDF files and images .
Eventually I managed to find Step 1: Go to Folder Options
In Windows Explorer, click the Option key to make the hidden menu appear, then select Tools / Folder Options.
Step 2: Tell Windows Not to Use Thumbnails
For some reason it worked except for one folder, I split that one down and now all is fine.
I`ve changed the settings back to showing thumbnails and it`s still OK.
To me it just doesn`t make sense but fingers crossed it's solved the problem for now.
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It won't because something is "still in use".... and the pathway to it can not be moved while it is "still in use". because the computer notes where it came from and where it is to be returned to!!
I don`t understand this "still in use" . To me if I`m trying to rename a folder then it has to be in use for me to do that. Yes, I am not very technical ::) but I`m good at sewing . ;)
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It won't because something is "still in use".... and the pathway to it can not be moved while it is "still in use". because the computer notes where it came from and where it is to be returned to!!
I don`t understand this "still in use" . To me if I`m trying to rename a folder then it has to be in use for me to do that. Yes, I am not very technical ::) but I`m good at sewing . ;)
Have you ever had a file that won't open because it was incorrectly closed last time and you've had to do Recover File.... that file is an example of a file still in use because it wasn't returned properly!
Same often happens if a computer shuts down suddenly due to overheating.....everything gets stored but often "incorrectly" and the computer sees them "still in use"
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Thanks for that , I get that explanation, but not sure if that was the problem. It`s useful to have all these tips though for future reference.