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jmparsons3
Participating Frequently
May 2, 2012
Question

Can't delete or move PDF

  • May 2, 2012
  • 29 replies
  • 164389 views

I am using Acrobate Pro version 9.5.1 on a Windows 7 64 bit machine.

Once I have created a PDF, I find I am unable to move or delete the file. If I reboot the machine, I can delete or move the file, but as soon as I open a PDF, the problem is back until I reboot again.

It appears others have had the same problem, but I don't see any solutions. Does anyone have any suggestions or workarounds?

TIA,

Joe Parsons

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    29 replies

    Show previous replies
    M
    martinkokes.cz
    New Participant
    December 29, 2014

    try this Fixes for 64-bit Adobe Reader preview handler and thumbnails

    T
    Test Screen Name
    Brainiac
    December 29, 2014

    Caution! These sophisticated fixes(?) are not from Adobe and are apps to run on your computer which can do anything. So, as with any download, be sure you trust the source.

    can_t_delete_pdf
    can_t_delete_pdf
    New Participant
    December 10, 2014

    Convert the Adobe file into Nitro or Reader file via right-click options. Once converted, delete them. It worked for me.

    booksweet
    booksweet
    New Participant
    September 17, 2014

    I dont' know if this will work for anyone else for I opened the file in Microsoft Office picture viewer after it wouldn't delete and I deleted it that way. Adobe seems to work fine now It's letting me delete files again.

    A
    ayhanyildiz
    New Participant
    May 20, 2014

    i hate you adobe!! so many people struggling with this issue and still no fix. just already die stupid corporation!!!

      A
      Anonymous
      April 11, 2014

      I had this problem a while ago with Acrobat Reader X so uninstalled it and was using Foxit instead. I now have Acrobat Pro and the minute I installed the problem came back.

      I'm using Windows Explorer in Windows 7 x64. Everything is fine until I run Acrobat. Only server files are affected. When I delete a file it seems to disappear, but when navigating away and back to the folder it's still there, but now cannot be opened. The file can usually be moved to another location, until a delete attempt is made and the file becomes broken. It seems to be locked but Unlocker does nothing on the file (i.e. nothing is listed as using it). I then can't delete, move or rename it. Rebooting solves the issue in that all locked/broken files are gone.

      As expected, this isue is driving me absolutely nuts!

      Does anyone know what can be done to solve the issue?

        T
        Test Screen Name
        Brainiac
        April 11, 2014

        ChrisDanger, you seem to have a different problem from everyone else, and one I've never heard of before. Perhaps one to take up with your server admin.

        C
        corykent
        New Participant
        February 25, 2014

        I had this same trouble. It's got to be something with Adobe PDF. It doesn't happen with my other PDF readers. They tell you make sure it's not running somewhere in the background. Well I downloaded the unlocker program, and when it checked it said it could not find any instance where the file was being used. It was still able to close it thankfully, but that's pretty messed up.

        H
        Adobe Employee
        Hitender_Prakash
        Adobe Employee
        May 14, 2012

        Hi,

        You can check the process which has locked the file by using a utility "handle.exe", you can download it free from : http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896655

        Open this exe in command prompt and give the filename as parameter e.g 

        C:\Documents and Settings\username\Desktop\ handle.exe "C:\Documents and Settings\username\Desktop\xyz.pdf"

        Now it will list the procees which has handle of the file. Try killing the process and then deleting or moving the file. But this is not the right solution to kill the process everytime. I am interesting in knowing that which process is locking the file. If possible, please share the file.

        Thanks.

        M
        MicroWriter
        Participating Frequently
        January 10, 2014

        I just started having this problem now Since late December 2013 into Jan 2014.

        My pdf manuals on our network server cannot be deleted or renamed.

        I tried logging into the server itself so its not just my laptop.

        At first I noticed I could not save a new pdf conversion from Word 2010 (using Acrobat pro XI) with the same name.

        So I used a new name "xxxxlatestlatest.pdf"

        Then I could not save to that either but I found I could save with the original name, so now I have a new file and cannot delete the strange one.

        I ran handle.exe and it says process iD 4  system    so that does not really help does it?

        It sounds like the entire windows server file system has a lock on it.

        How do release the file without killing the entire system???

        signed, very frustrated/Annoyed

        T
        Test Screen Name
        Brainiac
        November 20, 2015

        Test screen - statement is not true/not addressing the issue.

        I have and use Acrobat DC. I am not talking about preview thumbnails (although that is a cop out too).  I am talking about the windows explorer preview pane.

        If a file is highlighted in explorer, with preview pane on;  You can rename the file. You can copy the file. You CANNOT move the file. You CANNOT delete the file. "file in use". You can "try again" all day.

        Only way to fix - turn off preview pane, restart windows explorer, then you can move or delete the file.

        EXAMPLE: So, if I have a directory with 100 files, named img001.pdf ,002,003 etc; So lets say you need to see what they are; to sort, move, whatever.  Based upon content, some need to be moved to a folder, some just need to be deleted.

        You either have to:

             Leave the preview pane OFF, OPEN all the files to see the contents, then close acrobat, then move or delete.

             OR

             Use the preview pane to see the contents, but then you can't move or delete the file while it is active in the preview pane. turn off the pane, shut down explorer, restart explorer. NOW you can      move or delete the file.

        It is ONLY the ADOBE PDF handler that holds/locks the file for a ridiculous amount of time, which is completely unnecessary FOR A PREVIEW. NO other handler does this, from MS to AUTODESK, to OTHER PDF apps. ONLY ADOBE.

        MAYBE IT IS BECAUSE ADOBE IS SO FREAKING PARANOID ABOUT ACROBAT, AND THE NEED TO "CALL HOME" - WHAT SEEMS LIKE EVERY THIRD KEYSTROKE - THAT THEY ALSO FEEL THE NEED TO LOCK FILES IN PREVIEW.


        This is interesting because the preview pane was supposed to be removed in Acrobat DC. There have been complaints about the lack of preview. Do you see a preview of the PDF (first page) in Windows Explorer for new files? If so, I wonder if there is also an old copy of Acrobat or Reader on the system.

        dave_m_k
        dave_m_k
        Brainiac
        May 3, 2012

        Good day Joe,

        A few questions for you:

        • Where on your hard drive are you saving the file to? 
        • Does the problem occur if you save to other locations on the hard drive? 
        • Has this ever worked for you?  If so, what changed?

        Kind regards,

        David

        J
        jmparsons3Author
        Participating Frequently
        May 3, 2012

        The file is on my desktop (C:\Users\Joe Parsons\Desktop). Files saved to different locations behave the same way. Trying to open a PDF on that machine using another machine on the network, users cannot save using the same name.

        I can move or delete files after rebooting the machine, but once I have opened any PDF, the problem returns.

        Thanks for replying. I am at my wit's end here!

        Joe Parsons

        B
        Bill12
        Inspiring
        May 4, 2012

        Check that no parts of AA are left running after you close it. If AA still has a running part, it may not have released the file back to Windows. Of course, it may be an issue with the 64-bit OS which I am not very familiar with, other than it has caused a lot of different problems for folks.

        J
        jmparsons3Author
        Participating Frequently
        May 3, 2012

        Bump?

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