visual studio -- can't remove files from solution explorer

Question

I have a file in my solution explorer that I no longer want. When I right click on it, I see an option to "exclude" it from the project. But that still leaves it in the solution explorer. I also see an option to "delete" it. But I don't want to do that. What I want to do is stop having my current project reference it all, but still leave it in existence on disk. How do I do that?

I've tried the edit menu with it selected. Same thing. I can exclude or delete, but can't remove.

Its location on disk is not in the directory tree underneath the project directory.

EDIT: Apparently it was on the disk twice, once in the directory and hidden, which is why I kept seeing it.

Answer 1

Make sure your app is not running otherwise the delete and exclude option will be inactive in the context menu.