Unable to rename folders

[Nigel Andrews]

I am finding often when I have changed a filename within a folder I am then
unable to rename the folder that contains it.
It even seems if I merely Copy the filename text, to past it elsewhere, then
the folder containing that file cannot be renamed.
Only if I then reboot can I rename that folder.

I note that all my folders have a Read Only attribute, but as my other PC's
do aswell I assume this is normal.

Thanks
Nigel

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I am finding often when I have changed a filename within a folder I am then
unable to rename the folder that contains it.
It even seems if I merely Copy the filename text, to past it elsewhere, then
the folder containing that file cannot be renamed.
Only if I then reboot can I rename that folder.

I note that all my folders have a Read Only attribute, but as my other PC's
do aswell I assume this is normal.

Thanks
Nigel

It would be helpful if you posted the message you see
when you're prevented from renaming a folder.

 

[Noncompliant]

If you are talking about the "Documents and Settings" folder and subfolders,
all of them are read-only by default. Files contained within them are not.

Your post is about renaming folders, not files. I see nothing wrong with
the behavior exhibited, if all of the above is true. This is speculation
since you failed to divulge specific information.

 

[Rock]

I am finding often when I have changed a filename within a folder I am then
unable to rename the folder that contains it.
It even seems if I merely Copy the filename text, to past it elsewhere,
then the folder containing that file cannot be renamed.
Only if I then reboot can I rename that folder.

I note that all my folders have a Read Only attribute, but as my other
PC's do aswell I assume this is normal.

The read only setting for folders is ignored by windows. Folders are always
open for reading. Actually it's not set to read only. There are three
states for it. It's actually in an indeterminate state. You can see the
three states for clicking on the box and seeing how it cycles.

See this article for more info:
You Cannot View or Change the Read-Only or System Attribute of Folders
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326549/en-us

 

[Nigel Andrews]

Rock,

Thanks for that info. Then that is not the cause of the main problem.
Can you offer any suggestions why the Rename fails? There error says that
the folder maybe write protected etc. So it also shows when I try to Move
such a folder or delete it.

Thanks again

Nigel

 

[Rock]

Rock,

Thanks for that info. Then that is not the cause of the main problem.
Can you offer any suggestions why the Rename fails? There error says that
the folder maybe write protected etc. So it also shows when I try to Move
such a folder or delete it.

This is a strange problem. No, I don't have any thoughts on it at the
moment. Is this a new problem? If so what changed between the time things
worked and now? New software installs? Updates? Have you tried a system
restore to before this behavior manifested itself?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Try this:
- Close all applications.
- Click Start / Run / cmd {OK}
- Type these commands:
cd /d "c:\Documents and Settings\Nigel\My Documents" {Enter}
(type the actual path to the parent of the problem folder)
- ren abc xyz {Enter}
(type actual folder names)
- Report what you see. Verbatim, please, none of this "etc." stuff!
- Try the above test while in Safe Mode.

 

[Nigel Andrews]

Rock,

Thanks again.

The only updates have been the regular monthly Windows updates. But I don't
remember it starting at or around then.
I had initially connected this with starting to use a 4Gb Samsung pen drive
as I was first getting the problem on that. But then I found it was also
happening between folders on the hard drive. So unless the pen drive has
'infected' the PC with this problem I can only put it down to coincidence.
I would be pleased to hear any more.

I mentioned the extra info, that deleting files is a related problem. I
sometimes find that if moving or deleting files, even if they do move or
delete, if I switch out of that source folder and back the file may
reappear!! If it does reappear and I then try to delete or run them I get an
error relating to file protection.

It certainly is a puzzler.

Nigel

 

[Nigel Andrews]

Pegasus.

Thanks for that I will do, tho' I am not sure if I can get it to boot into
safe mode! One more of it's problems<s>

If I can't start in safe mode I will do it in normal boot.
Incidentally the folders where I most frequently operate and so find the
most problems is not under Docs and Settings. But maybe you just used that
as an example.

Thanks again

Nigel

 

[Nigel Andrews]

Pegasus,

O.K. I have tried that but it doesn't give much of a clue.

I had to do it in Normal mode as the PC won't start-up in Safe (see below)
After I had changed the filename of the one file in the sample folder I
tried deleting that folder in Windows and got the usual error 'Denied -
maybe write protected' etc. Then I ran your list in the Command prompt and
just got "Access denied".

I wonder, if I was able to boot in Safe mode, it would be any different?


Safe mode fails after it has scrolled many *.sys files and at the bottom
says (twice in succession) "Press ESC to cancel loading (*).sys". Then that
disappears and a few seconds later the PC reboots!

Sorry there is not more info I can give

Nigel

 

[Nigel Andrews]

Rock,

Thanks for thinking about this.

The PC also fails to boot in Safe mode (tho' this problem is quite old) I
wonder if it has any connection?

Safe mode fails after it has scrolled many *.sys files and at the bottom
says (twice in succession) "Press ESC to cancel loading (*).sys". Then that
disappears and a few seconds later the PC reboots

Thanks

Nigel

 

[Rock]

Rock,

Thanks for thinking about this.

The PC also fails to boot in Safe mode (tho' this problem is quite old) I
wonder if it has any connection?

Safe mode fails after it has scrolled many *.sys files and at the bottom
says (twice in succession) "Press ESC to cancel loading (*).sys". Then
that
disappears and a few seconds later the PC reboots

I doubt if it has the same underlying cause. Sorry that I don't have
anything concrete to suggest. It is less common to get posts in here about
not being able to boot into safe mode, where a normal mode works. This can
be a problem with video driver that XP loads for safe mode.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...an't boot in safe mode windows xp&sa=N&tab=gw

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=...boot in safe mode windows xp&sa=N&um=1&tab=wg