Can't delete folders because thumbs.db is in use
We're having a minor problem with Windows 7. The majority of the time we try to delete a folder full of jpg's, we get an error saying it can't be deleted because thumbs.db is in use. The user isn't going into the folder itself, so I assume that the machines are trying to make a thumbs.db to be used by the folder icon where it updates to include thumbnails of the files inside of it, and this is why it says thumbs.db is in use? If that is the case, is there a way to prevent this? or is my problem something different from what I described?
January 28th, 2013 10:35am

Here are a few things you can try: Log off, then log on again, then delete the folder.Log off, then log under an admin account, then delete the folder.Run this command from the Console to find out what's locking the file: oh.exe | find /i thumbs The command takes a long time to run. You can extract it from the Resource kit found here.
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January 28th, 2013 11:34am

Hi, Please try Disable the generation of thumbs.db files by the Local Group Policy Editor and your problems will be resolved. They are only generated for compatibility with outdated applications, and are most certainly NOT needed for Windows operation. > User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer If you have any feedback on our support, please click here Juke Chou TechNet Community Support
January 29th, 2013 5:14am

Thanks Juke. Is there a GPO setting I could apply in a group policy in AD to also accomplish this? That way I wouldn't have to do it manually on every machine, and any new machines would always get the setting. I'm using Server 2003 mostly to set my GPOs but do have access to a 2008 domain controller if the setting only exists in the newer Server version
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January 29th, 2013 10:03am

* Press Alt + F, from the Windows 7 Explorer interface * Select Tools * Select Folder Options * Select the View tab * Check the box that says "Always show icons, never thumbnails"love is rock!!!
January 29th, 2013 3:52pm

Hi, Yes, you may set this policy on 2008 Domain Controller. Allen Li TechNet Community Support
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January 29th, 2013 10:11pm

Hi, Yes, you may set this policy on 2008 Domain Controller. Juke Chou TechNet Community Support
January 30th, 2013 6:09am

I'm assuming for the domain GPO it's in the same location that you mentioned above for the local policy? Is there an equivolent policy if I do it through my Server 2003 server? I guess I'm just afraid if I set it in 2008 what that will do to my XP machines still on the domain as well. Guess it probably won't hurt anything but not sure.
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January 30th, 2013 9:11am

Looks like under User Config/Admin Templates/Windows Components/Windows Explorer there is a "Turn off caching of thumbnail pictures" setting I could enable. Would this work for both XP and Windows 7 machines, or just the XP ones so I'd need to enable another policy to cover Windows 7?
January 30th, 2013 9:21am

Disabling thumbnails is not a solution. It's a bad workaround for a bug that has existed for way too long. I like thumbnails but I also like deleting directories that at one time contained thumbnails. As a user, I should be able to do both. Is there a solution for this bug?
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March 14th, 2013 2:12am

I have finally figured out a system that works well for me. Typically, as I am consolidating folders of video files I will search for *.avi and move the files. Then as I go to delete the folders that now contain only thumbs.db files they all delete, or all delete except for one. Attempts across the network and on the local machine to delete the folder or db file directly all fail. The solution is to wait a few hours and try again, or to copy a jpg file into the folder, set to large icons or thumbnail view if needed, and after the thumbs.db is recreated you can then delete it. It has worked every time so far. It's almost like windows doesn't know what to do with an empty folder. By giving it a new jpg file it can unlock the thumbs.db file, wipe out the previous thumbnails, and then you can delete it.
April 29th, 2013 1:33pm

I have finally figured out a system that works well for me. Typically, as I am consolidating folders of video files I will search for *.avi and move the files. Then as I go to delete the folders that now contain only thumbs.db files they all delete, or all delete except for one. Attempts across the network and on the local machine to delete the folder or db file directly all fail. The solution is to wait a few hours and try again, or to copy a jpg file into the folder, set to large icons or thumbnail view if needed, and after the thumbs.db is recreated you can then delete it. It has worked every time so far. It's almost like windows doesn't know what to do with an empty folder. By giving it a new jpg file it can unlock the thumbs.db file, wipe out the previous thumbnails, and then you can delete it.
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
April 29th, 2013 8:30pm

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