Unable to rename files in Windows 8.1

I cannot seem to rename folders through Explorer in Windows 8.1.




I can copy, move, create, and delete them. I can rename them using the REN command from a command prompt.

As far as I can tell, nothing else is wrong with my computer, but none of the fixes I've found so far seem to do anything. I've tried a number of suggestions from this forum and others.

Summary of Failed Attempts:

• Booted into Safe Mode
• Made a New User Account
• System Restore Point (two days ago, 9 days ago)
• Deleting / Restoring / Modifying FolderDescriptions registry entries
• SFC /scannow
• Removing windows update KB2984006
• Scanned for viruses using Nod32
• Scanned for malware using MalwareBytes

Details:
Tried rolling back to two different system restore points, both immediately before I observed the problem and one release prior to that.

Tried restoring FolderDescriptions registry entries as found here:
Can't rename a folder in Windows 8.1, any ideas? (my account is an administrator) : windows8

Booting in safe mode as suggested here:
Can't rename or move folders in 8.1 - Microsoft Community

SFC /scannow as suggested here:
KB2911106 regression bug: Cannot rename any folders in Windows Explorer after KB2911106 patch install (Network Steve Forum)

Tried removing registry keys and windows update KB2984006 as suggested here:
Cannot rename/move folders and files in Windows 8.1 | Microsoft Surface tablet

Also from KB980408 here:
http://www.eightforums.com/windows-...08-fix-cant-move-rename-folders-after-wu.html

Tried exporting folderdescriptions from other machine and importing as suggested here:
http://www.eightforums.com/general-support/43167-unable-rename-folders-windows-8-1-a.html

Compared my exported registry with other machine's exported registry for both:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions]

My FolderDescriptions branch of the registry in both cases are binary equal to those exported from my wife's Windows 8.1 laptop which works fine.

This seems to be a Windows issue that existed before Win 8.x
I had it with some files and folders on my Win 7 system.

What folder (full path please) were you trying to rename that you show the two error messages for? Maybe they are hardlinks and not real folders?

Ztruker said:

What folder (full path please) were you trying to rename that you show the two error messages for? Maybe they are hardlinks and not real folders?

Click to expand...

This happens when I try to rename any folders anywhere on the system. Those particular errors were from trying to rename "C:\Users\[myuser]\Desktop\New folder" to "temp", but they also occur when trying to rename folders at C:\ and Q:\ root or anywhere else that I've tried. I'm also unable to rename folders on flash media I insert (though I was able to rename a folder on a connected android device).

From: https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/d676eae2-bad9-44e4-a2ea-3dd5a81d675d/kb2911106-regression-bug-cannot-rename-any-folders-in-windows-explorer-after-kb2911106-patch?forum=w8itprogeneral

Look at your Shell Extensions as the source of potential problems in Explorer. It's possible an update made one of them less (or not) compatible.

A good program to do this with is: ShellExView

Click to expand...

Also, try creating a new user profile with the same authority as your current user, Administrator or Standard. See if you can rename there. If yes you could copy everything from the old account to the new one then test and if all is okay, delete the old.

Yep, was just about to advise using ShellExView to check the extensions, anyway

Ztruker said:

Also, try creating a new user profile with the same authority as your current user, Administrator or Standard. See if you can rename there. If yes you could copy everything from the old account to the new one then test and if all is okay, delete the old.

Click to expand...

Ummm, since he said its not working in safemode, don't u think he should try a refresh or restore???

Why not try a new user? If the current one has some profile corruption, usually registry problems then it's possible a new user will work okay. Would save a refresh.

A restore would be good if he can go back far enough to when the prob lem did not exist.

Ztruker said:

From: https://social.technet.microsoft.co...er-after-kb2911106-patch?forum=w8itprogeneral

Look at your Shell Extensions as the source of potential problems in Explorer. It's possible an update made one of them less (or not) compatible.

A good program to do this with is: ShellExView

Click to expand...

Also, try creating a new user profile with the same authority as your current user, Administrator or Standard. See if you can rename there. If yes you could copy everything from the old account to the new one then test and if all is okay, delete the old.

Click to expand...

I have tried creating a new user profile, but unfortunately that user still had the same problem. I'm working on the ShellExView approach now, though there my initial approach of mass-disabling all the non-microsoft entries didn't immediately yield any results. Will continue exploring this route.

Ztruker said:

Why not try a new user? If the current one has some profile corruption, usually registry problems then it's possible a new user will work okay. Would save a refresh.

A restore would be good if he can go back far enough to when the prob lem did not exist.

Click to expand...

Maybee, let him try a new profile and we'll see.

midou35000 said:

Ztruker said:

Why not try a new user? If the current one has some profile corruption, usually registry problems then it's possible a new user will work okay. Would save a refresh.

A restore would be good if he can go back far enough to when the prob lem did not exist.

Click to expand...

Maybee, let him try a new profile and we'll see.

Click to expand...

I've posted a couple times that I tried creating a new user account, which still has the same problem. Perhaps I misunderstand your suggestion. Can you clarify what you are suggesting that is different than creating a new user account?

Sorry, I missed that when I was reading this thread. Yiou have already done what I was suggesting.

I see you already tried two restore points as well.

I'd try a refresh next. Leaves your data intact and most of your installed software. Even though it leaves your data intact I'd strongly sugget backing up your data before trying it:

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2293-refresh-windows-8-a.html

Nope, thats what he wanted to tell you, i think you should refresh, cause its not a registry problem, its a very deep one, as i said its same result for safemode so its not a 3rd party program that caused this, only fix is a refresh.

Hello, I didn't really read through this post that well, just skimmed. Check out my reply (#10) on this post: http://www.eightforums.com/general-support/64253-difficulty-renaming-deleting-folders-try-again-cancel.html#post491977