Can't rename files in Win7 - getting message another folder is open but it isn't!

usignuolo · 17 August 2011 at 12:49PM

I have been trying to rename some of my photos in Win7 using right click and rename. This keeps giving me an error message saying it cannot be done because another file or program is open or running - but it isn't, there is nothing else open or running.

I looked up the explanation on the web but only found some incomprehensible response from a microsoft tech for whom english was clearly not their first language.

Can anyone help?

RussJK · 17 August 2011 at 1:20PM

It's one of the more annoying aspects of Windows 7 - a background process has the file open to generate and store the thumbnails for the photos. The side effect is that it locks the file, and makes it a pain to edit or delete anything.

Give it some time, and you'll be able to rename it. Otherwise you'll have to turn off thumbnail caching, which has its own drawbacks.

A third option (a bit overkill really) is to copy the file and rename it to whatever you originally intended. Afterwards, delete the locked file with something like Malwarebytes FileASSASSIN. It wouldn't be my first choice to do it this way.