Explorer locks certain folders and contents

[Callender]

So here's the issue. Explorer locks certain folders so that they can't be deleted.

Example:

(I get the same problem on all subfolders in this folder and with quite a few other folders located elsewhere)

I browse to a folder name "Digital Detective" and open then close it. It's a subfolder within a folder named "Toolbox 2" located on my Desktop. This folder - "Toolbox 2" is also included in Libraries. If I open then close the folder it remains locked by Explorer for some time but eventually the lock will be released. I browse to the folder using the following file path:

"C:\Users\Chris\Desktop\Toolbox 2"



Having closed the folder it will remain locked and the only way to unlock it without using unlocking software is to close the handle:





Although sometimes the lock will be released after some time. I haven't managed to work out exactly why or when the lock gets released.

If I browse to and then open/ close the same folder via the following file path:

"Libraries\Toolbox 2"

- Explorer doesn't lock it.



I get the same issue with folders on another partition where I keep downloads and some other stuff but nothing on that partition is included in any library.

The strange thing is that if I use another file manager like Q-Dir I can delete these files without any problems at all.

Any ideas?

 

[Berton]

I'd be wondering if maybe Digital Detective is not causing the problem? The Q-Dir program may not be on DDs radar, isn't bothering it.

 

[Callender]

Explorer locking folders

Thanks for your input Berton, that particular folder is just an example. The same problem exists on all of the other subfolders too.

Steps taken so far include:

Disabled thumbnail caching via regedit and also via Group Policy and ran gpudate /force.

Rebooted.

The problem still exists.

Workarounds include:

Delete using a file manager other than Explorer.
Force delete using elevated command prompt.
Exit Explorer window then re-open and then delete folder using Explorer.


EDIT:

There would appear to be two open handles once a folder is opened.

 

[lehnerus2000]

System File Checker

Maybe your copy of Windows Explorer has become corrupted.

Have you tried running sfc?

Open the Command Prompt (Use the "Run as administrator" option in the context menu).
Type:

sfc /scannow
​

Tutorial
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

 

[Callender]

SFC/ Scannow

Will run SFC/ Scannow once I've made a system image backup and post any results.

 

[Callender]

SFC/ Scannow

Ran SFC and it didn't fix the problem. It did however revert some customizations and tweaks as I suspected it would. I restored the system image backup that I made before running SFC.

Next step:

Disabled any potentially wayward shell extensions (anything non-microsoft) - rebooted - and the problem was solved.

Currently re-enabling those shell extensions one at a time to find the culprit.