CS Professional Suite: Closing Open Files on Windows Server 2008 - 2016

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Occasionally, a server operating system will fail to close an open file. The following problems can occur when open files are running on the server:

  • Read / write errors
  • Errors deleting or opening a file
  • Errors while installing updates
  • Errors opening an application or disallowing access to an application
  • Errors when accessing certain features of an application

If the server recognizes that another machine is holding a file open, we can release the file without having to reboot the server. There are various methods to release the open files, but all of them must be performed while sitting at the server.

Use caution when closing open files at the server. Before closing any open files, verify that all users are closed out of the application(s) related to the file you are closing. Closing an open file while a user is working in a related application may cause data corruption. If you have any concerns or questions, consult your qualified IT professional.

For instructions, see this Microsoft help topic Close an Open File. External link(What's this?)

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Note: These instructions apply to Windows Server 2008 and any server operating system built on the Windows Server 2008 R2 architecture (e.g. Windows SBS 2011).

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