📎 AI Summary:
The thread discusses issues with renaming folders that are reported as "in use" by Adobe Acrobat, despite no apparent open files or active processes. Several solutions are offered, including closing related processes, using tools like SysInternals Process Monitor or Autoruns to identify and disable the culprit, and rebooting the system to release file locks. The overall sentiment highlights that actively managing file usage or employing specialized utilities is necessary to bypass Windows' restrictions when files are perceived as in use.
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enbeng

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Thread Author #1
Hi,

As the title suggests, I often receive the following error message when renaming folders:

"Folder In Use. The action can't be completed because the folder is open in Adobe Acrobat"

However that is not the case. I even restart my computer to make sure nothing is accidentally left open in the background. I have even tried renaming folders with just a single, simple PDF inside that has never even been opened. I just have the standard, free Adobe Reader installed and I have never messed with any of the default settings.

I can get around it by closing everything related to it in the task manager, then waiting a while and renaming. But for my job I deal a LOT with PDFs, am often managing loads of files and folders, making and reading PDF reports, etc. It is a huge time loss to continuously have to work around this issue.

Is there any way I can force windows to move/rename folders regardless of when the files are in use? I am careful enough not to do so when I actually have a working file open (at least open in the forefront where the average user can see it).

Thank-you very much for your help,
Jack
 

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patcooke

patcooke

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#2
There is no way you can erase a file which is currently flagged as "in use". I suggest you use autoruns (free download from here: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx and use it to identify and suspend whatever startup item is causing the folder to be in use. Provided that it not some essential activity or process then you can remove the offending item from startup.
 

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Jimbo22

Jimbo22

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#3
Or simply reboot and try it again....that error message pops up when that file is in use by the OS.....whether you started it or not.

I found that out with skype, which had files opened or in use and couldn't shut it down what ever I was doing with that file. I had to track it back to its source...which ended up being skype and all I had to do was close skype then I could take what ever action I wanted to with said file in question.
 

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ussnorway

ussnorway

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#4
The left and right preview panes are common causes of this issue… the two example screen shots show folders "in use" by myself because I have them previewed.
An image from 'When renaming, Error: 'Folder In Use' even when it is not'. A folder named 'Acronis True Image Home 2014...' is selected in a backup directory, and its screenshot is highlighted in a screenshots folder.

An image from 'When renaming, Error: 'Folder In Use' even when it is not'. A folder named 'Acronis True Image Home 2014...' is selected in a backup directory, and its screenshot is highlighted in a screenshots folder.


You can set windows 8 or 8.1.1 to ignore these when deleting but the default setting is to block deletion in this situation.
 

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enbeng

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Thread Author #6
Thank-you very much to everyone, that was very helpful information.
 

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