can't delete folders in win7 because explorer is using them

[unwashed potato!]

trying to tidy up some old folders i never use and i can't delete them without using unlockerr program, which tells me win explorer is using them but i can't figure out why. these are folders that i haven't used in ages just have a few word files/images/text files.

any clue why this might be happening? unlocker is deleting them fine but it's annoying to have to run it on each folder.

 

[unwashed potato!]

Another method is to delete files within the folder (or sub folders) and then it may let you delete the folder. Has worked on numerous occasions for me.

this actually worked for me for all the folders. very odd issue no idea why explorer wouldn't let me delete until it was empty, as the folders were just random ones i haven't accessed in years