Windows 10: Can't move or rename folders

When I try to move or rename a folder I get

Can't find the specified file.
Make sure you specify the correct path and file name.

It seems that right-clicking would tell windows where the folder is. When I make a new folder it comes as Folder 1, Folder 2 etc. When I try to paste in a name I get the same message then get Folder 1 as the folder name. This just started a few hours ago. I haven't installed any new programs since May 9. A few days ago I couldn't move files from right pane to left in Explorer but that fixed itself somehow. Thank you for your time reading this and hope you can help with this.

:)

 

Can't rename or move folders win10 but i can move and rename files.

Pls try the link here.

 

Can't rename or move folders win10 but i can move and rename files.

Hi,

All the 5 keys listed above are present in a Windows 10 clean install and I wouldn't remove them.

I've uploaded the FolderDescriptions key (Windows 10 defaults) here:

http://www.winhelponline.com/temp/folder-desc-10.zip

Unzip and extract the REG file to Desktop. Similarly export the FolderDescriptions key in your system, and do a comparison of both. Use a file compare tool, or via online (Diff Checker)

Note down the differences if any and post back.

 

Hi, could you advise if this happens with all folders, or only those containing files where the path length + the file name exceeds Windows' limit of 160 characters?
Path name too long.

 

All folders. I can move and rename individual files with no problem.

 

Ok, let's try basics..
1. Does this happen in Safe Mode?
2. If you created a new account for test purposes, and boot normally, does it happen in that account?

 

Can't rename/move in safe mode and for some reason won't let me make a new user account.

 

Seems something is significantly wrong. Have you ever altered permissions in any significant way?

Do you have any system restore points you can use?

History: many people omit this.

Do you know what happened immediately before this started to happen?
Any strange event, update, something you installed, migrated to a new disk....?

If you neither have useful system restore points nor any sort of disk image or recovery disk (we strongly and repeatedly recommend disk imaging which means you have a full backup and can restore your system to a previous working state quickly and without technical help even if your disk fails, your pc becomes unbootable or infected with ransomware - e.g. Macrium Reflect (free) ) then:

1. From an admin command prompt
[Windows key + X, click command prompt (admin)]
chkdsk C: /F
Your PC will need to restart.
Post back the result, which you can get after a restart as follows:
How do I see the results of a CHKDSK that ran on boot? - Ask Leo!
Make sure the result is clear or fixed- else do not proceed.

(This is an elementary maintenance procedure to check and correct your file system).

2. From an admin command prompt
sfc /scannow
To check the integrity of your system files.

Make sure the result is clear or fixed- else do not proceed.

If all the above passes - and it often doesn't -
I suggest you try- and no guarantees whatsoever- this is pretty much a last ditch attempt
Download and install and run Tweaking.com's free cautious tool.
Observe the cautious preparatory steps.
Then choose all repairs related to correcting permissions.

 

I gave up and reinstalled windows and started over. Thanks anyway.

 

Sometimes it's the only way.

Now, how can you protect yourself and often avoid having to clean install, feel secure and save ahuge amount of time and frustration?

Start using disk imaging routinely, as I believe all regular contributors here do. What is it and why?

Here's my write-up on the value of disk imaging.

Everyone who contributes regularly here uses and recommends disk imaging.

If you use it, you can recover from:
- a failed disk drive (restore to a new one)
- ransomware (which encrypts your disk)
- user error
- unrecoverable problems from failed updates to problem programs
- unbootable PC (hardware faults aside)

Images also act as a full backup- you can extract files too.

You can even use images to help you move more easily and quickly to a new PC.
Can be used with Laplink software to transfer your build automatically to another PC

Imaging can even help you sleep at night knowing you have a second chance.

Creating disk images lets you restore Windows and all your imaged disks and partitions to a previous working state from compressed copies you have created and kept updated on external storage media, quickly and probably without technical help.

Many here recommend Macrium Reflect (free) as a good robust solution and more reliable than some others. It’s
- more feature rich
- more flexible
- more reliable
than Windows Backup and Restore system images.

It's well supported with videos, help and a responsive forum.

There are other such programs, free/commercial, some with simpler interfaces, but Macrium R is one of the most robust and reliable.

How long does it take?
SSD+ USB3 - maybe 15 mins for the first system image, less thereafter
HDD + USB2 - maybe 40-50 mins
That’s with little personal data, few programs installed.
- of course, depends how much you have on C:
(You can and should image all your partitions and disks)

Once you've created your first image, keep it updated with e.g. differential imaging- which images just changes from the first image, more quickly, and creates a smaller image file.

You need a backup medium - say- twice as large as the total amount of data you are imaging to keep a reasonable number of differential images. This will vary dependent on the number of images you keep, so is only a rough practical guide.

Some comment that system restore isn't always reliable; if it works and solves the problem, great. But sometimes restores won't work or fail. And of course a restore point only covers a limited number of aspects of the system. That’s where disk imaging comes in.

(There's a tutorial on Macrium in the Tutorials section, and a couple of videos in the user videos section on this forum)
Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect Windows 10 Backup Restore Tutorials
Windows 10 instructional videos by Ten Forums members

 

You can try to download File and Folder troubleshooter winfilefolder.diagcab. It will automatically fix your problem

1. Launch it.
2. Check Advanced > Apply repairs automatically and click Next.
3. Then you follow on-screen instructions and select the options that suits your condition: Renaming or moving files and folders

Learn more how to use winfilefolder.diagcab by watching this video below

[youtube]tHmxJhcyLL4[/youtube]

 

I hate when it happens. In future use LongPath tool to solve this problem.