Recently (the last week?) I have been getting bogus error messages like this one when I want to move a file or folder or rename a folder:
The only way to get rid of these messages, and to do the folder move or rename, has been to reboot the system.
What is going on here? Is this a new bug? (My system is always up to date with MS patches. Running Win 10 Pro 64.)
Is there a workaround?
Quite sure. For example I open and then CLOSE a PDF. But Windows acts like that PDF is still open. Same for Word docs, Excel, etc.
The reason I think these warnings are bogus is that I'm working the same way I always have, and until last week (?) I got these messages only when a file was truly open.
x509
First, it's not bogus. If you can't delete the files, it's because there's a lock on those files.
At least assuming that by "bogus" you mean "not real". The lock is real. The question is why are the files locked.
One possibility is your anti-virus. Sometimes the act of click on a file in explorer will trigger an antivirus scan of it, and then deleting it doesn't work because it's In the middle of a scan.
Have you tried deleting the files in a command prompt without using explorer at all?
Another option is that some device drivers can leak file handle locks.
The real situation is finding the lock, and there are some tools that can be useful in finding that information, such as process explorer and TaskInfo.
I did a post about this, 2 days ago. I believe it is related to the KB4090913 and KB4090914 updates.
Unable to rename/delete or move folders since updates KB4090913/14 - Windows 10 Forums
Sounds like the problem that I'm having, except that a reboot clears out the blocks.
It also seems that blocks get put on files that I haven't even opened, because I opened a different file of the same type, e.g. PDF. I'm not 100% certain of this, because I was working fast to get something done when this occurred.
Use LockHunter: LockHunter is a free 64/32 bit tool to delete files blocked by any processes
1) Download/install
2) Right click on the file > press What is locking this file? (refer to the picture)
3) What does it say for which process is locking it?
4) Press the Unlock It! button
5) Try renaming / moving / etc
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