Close the File Thumbs db and Try Again

Thumbs.db is a hidden system file that is automatically created by Windows Explorer (File Explorer) in all folders containing image and video files. File Explorer creates thumbnails of the images in the directory and saves them to the thumbs.db file (a COM structured storage). Thanks to the thumbs.db file, Windows Explorer doesn't need to create thumbnails every time the user browses the binder. By using the cache, the time it takes to load and display thumbnail files in File Explorer is greatly reduced.

However, the thumbs.db file tin can cause some bug for arrangement administrators and users, especially when used on shared network folders. In this article, nosotros'll take a expect at whether it is possible to delete/disable creation of the thumbs.db file on Windows.

Contents:

• What is Thumbs.db File on Windows?
• Unable to Delete Network Shared Binder Because Thumbs.db is in Utilise
• Disable Thumbs.db Generation on Network Drives using GPO
• Disable Thumbs.db File Creation on Network Shares via Registry
• Recursively Delete Thumbs.db on Shared Folder using PowerShell

What is Thumbs.db File on Windows?

Windows File Explorer saves information virtually thumbnails (small copies of images) of jpeg, bmp, gif, tif, pdf, html files and some video files to thumbs.db file. By default the thumbs.db file is subconscious and doesn't show in the File Explorer. The size of the thumbs.db file depends on the number of epitome files in the binder.

Annotation that fifty-fifty if you delete the image file from the binder, its thumbnail will remain in the thumbs.db file.

In Windows 10 the thumbs.db file is generated only for shared network folders. The thumbs.db file is non created for local prototype directories and the thumbnail cache for File Explorer is stored in the user profile %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer as thumbcache_xxxx.db files.

If your Windows ten doesn't display icons or thumbnails correctly, y'all can reset this cache.

The thumbs.db file tin be safely deleted manually. It volition exist automatically recreated the next time you view the thumbnails of the files in the folder. Yet, you can prevent Windows 10 File Explorer from creating the thumbs.db file.

The easiest way to do this is from the File Explorer settings menu:

1. Printing the keyboard shortcut Win+E;
2. Go to the View tab and select Options;
3. Enable the "Always prove icons, never thumbnails" option in Advanced Settings of the View tab.

If yous need to disable thumbnail creation on all computers in the domain, utilize Group Policy. More on this below.

Unable to Delete Network Shared Folder Considering Thumbs.db is in Utilize

There is one mutual problem in network folders related to the use of the thumbnail caching by Windows File Explorer. You may notice that immediately later copying/moving the image directory in the network folder on the file server, Windows doesn't let yous to delete or rename the directory. You could simply rename or delete this folder simply later a certain fourth dimension (1-5 minutes).

When trying to delete this network share, the following error appeared:

          Folder In Use          The activity can't exist completed because the folder or a file in it is open in some other programme. Close the file or folder and try again.

The effect is related to a known issue described by Microsoft in the KB2025703  (Renaming a network folder in Windows Explorer fails with "the action tin can't be completed"). The article states that sometimes the presence of a thumbs.db file with a thumbnail cache tin prevent deleting or renaming network folders.

Information technology looks like Windows is taking a while to create the thumbnail cache file.While this file is being created or updated, you lot cannot practice anything with its parent directory until the thumbcache.dll process unlocks the thumbs.db file handle.

In this instance, you lot tin can turn off the automatic generation of the thumbs.db file for network folders and drives.

Disable Thumbs.db Generation on Network Drives using GPO

To prevent Windows File Explorer from creating a hidden thumbnail cache (Thumbs.db fil)e when browsing folders, you tin can apply a GPO.

1. 1. Run the local GPO editor (gpedit.msc) or create a domain GPO using the gpmc.msc panel;
   2. Become to the following Group Policy section User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> File Explorer;
   3. This department has iii options that allow you to manage the creating of the thumbs.db file by File Explorer:
      • Plow off the display of thumbnails and only display icons on network folders (prevents thumbs.db file from being created on shared network folder)
      • Turn off caching of thumbnails in hidden thumbs.db files
      • Plough off the display of thumbnails and only brandish icons
   4. Enable all 3 policies by changing their values to Enabled;

1. It remains to link the Group Policy to users (if you use domain GPOs) and update it on domain computers. To apply the policy settings immediately, run the command: gpupdate /strength

If you have prevented Windows from creating a thumbnail image cache file in folders, Windows has to load the epitome files and generate thumbnails each time, which is resource consuming. As a effect, creating thumbnails of images will have much longer (particularly in case of folders containing a lot of images).

Disable Thumbs.db File Cosmos on Network Shares via Registry

In Dwelling house editions of Windows without the local GPO Editor, you can disable the cosmos of hidden thumbs.db files in shared network folders using the Registry Editor (regedit.exe).

To do it, create a new registry key Explorer under the HK EY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\, and create a REG_DWORD parameter with the name DisableThumbsDBOnNetworkFolders and the value ane .

The same operation can be done with a single command:

reg add "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v DisableThumbsDBOnNetworkFolders /d 0x1 /t REG_DWORD /f

Recursively Delete Thumbs.db on Shared Folder using PowerShell

The existing Thumbs.db files are not automatically removed from the shared folders after you enable the policy. You tin recursively delete all Thumbs.db files on a specific drive or in a network folder using PowerShell.

Go to the binder yous demand (UNC paths supported):

cd \\mun-fs01\Public\Photo
To list all Thumbs.db files in subfolders, run:
Get-ChildItem -Path . -Include Thumbs.db -Recurse -Proper name -Force | Remove-Item –Force –WhatIF

Recursively delete the found thumbnail files:
Get-ChildItem -Path . -Include Thumbs.db -Recurse -Proper noun -Force | Remove-Item –Force

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Source: http://woshub.com/disable-creating-thumbs-db-on-network-folders/

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