Hi Tom,
if you are still issued with the opening file then you can try the LongPath tool program. it is best for eliminating the long path file errors, java file errors, etc.
I hope it will be helpful to try it.
Kind Regards

Have you opened a support case with Microsoft? What you’re experiencing isn’t normal, and there could be a solution they can help you find.

THX. This is help to me.

I found the issue on my servers. The only way to get the search host to release the database folder completely is to create a new database on that specific server. Once I created another database and mounted it, the initial mailbox database folder could be deleted normally.

Hope this helps someone.

Anyone see a solution for this?

Any word on this? I’m having the same issue. I am trying to delete two folders that once contained databases. Those databases were deleted out of Exchange. Every time I delete them and restart the search service, the folders get recreated and new index files appear. How do I get rid of this?!

Just the index files. They still come back after rebooting.

Database files or index files?

Sorry to post on an old article, but I’m using a new install of Exchange 2013 SP1 CU6 and I’m having this same issue with removed database files that keep coming back even after successfully deleting with the Search Host Controller service disabled.