Why can't I remove a folder if I first remove a file/files inside that folder? Everytime when I do so I have to restart my computer before I can remove the folder. When I try ty remove that folder (whitout reboot) I get following message: "Can't remove folder. Source files may be in use". And this happens with every single folder I have. Thanks in advance

It appears to be a safety feature of XP so that an unintentional deletion of certain folders cannot happen. By rebooting the system the folder is read as empty and/or not in use and is allowed to be deleted. It also happens with files. If the system reads the file as "in use" it cannot be deleted until the program using it closes, or a reboot is performed. You'll see that often with files in Temp folders.

As long as its not a system folder which windows xp won't let you delete anyway, you could try restarting in 'safe mode' and then try deleting it.

Thanks for the answers. This can't be any safety feature of XP because if I create an empty folder called for example "aaa" and an empty notepad file inside that folder and then delete the notepad file, I can't delete the "aaa" folder without rebooting. Hopefully you understood this :)

May be this happens for two : first: there are programs you installed that controls directories once you create it so you can't delete it or change until you disable it by restarting (and this programs may be a virus try to use Good anti-virus program with it's latest update) second: there are a corruption in the windows which treat every directory as system directory or there are a hidden files which is created automatically once you create new directory which prevent deleting the folder unless you delete it first