Solved Can't drag files from Explorer into 64-bit programs

MikeOShay

New Member
Messages
3
I've been having this issue and trying to wrap my head around it for a couple weeks, and I've had this new laptop less than a month. Just as I was posting this, I realized that it seems to be specifically 64-bit programs.

Specifically, the problem is that when I try to drag a file from Explorer into a program that I know is able to load it from drag-and-drop, all I get is the "no" pointer, the circle with the line. All the programs I've tested would let you drag files onto them just fine on my older Windows 7 laptop.


Some of the specific programs this is happening in:
Microsoft Office 2010 (seemingly the whole suite is acting like this, I tested Word and Powerpoint)
Paint.NET 3.5.10
Sony Vegas 12.0
Waterfox 18.0.1


I can File>Open files in these programs just fine, but dragging to them from Explorer would be miles more convenient. I've tested the files I've tried dragging. They drag fine into Notepad, they drag fine into Foobar2000, IrfanView, Notepad++, all operating as 32-bit.

Now I WAS having the same problem with Audacity and Skype, which is why I didn't catch the pattern of them all being x64 programs at first (since I have 32-bit versions of both), but that was happening because they were being run as Administrator, which is an issue I'd also like to try and resolve. I don't understand why running as Admin should prevent me from dragging files into open windows of them.

Are my permissions screwed up or what?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 (Standard/Home edition)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS G55VW
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3630QM, 2.40GHz
    Motherboard
    Not sure
    Memory
    12GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVidia GTX 660M 2GB
    Browser
    Waterfox 18.0.1
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Something the net caught:

VS 2008 [RESOLVED] Unable to drag drop in windows 7 64 bit-VBForums

It might help you point to the right direction. (see post# 2)

I saw similar suggestions around, yeah. It doesn't seem to be the same problem. If I run paint.net as an admin I still can't drag stuff into it. Unless I have that backwards, which I very well may, in which case, how exactly would I go about running explorer.exe as an admin by default? That seems to be what it's implying. Right-clicking the actual explorer.exe file and opening a new window with "run as Admin" didn't yield and solution.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 (Standard/Home edition)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS G55VW
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3630QM, 2.40GHz
    Motherboard
    Not sure
    Memory
    12GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVidia GTX 660M 2GB
    Browser
    Waterfox 18.0.1
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Windows 8 has tighten its security more than the previous versions of Windows.

In order to allow drag & drop without any restriction. You must disable UAC completely BUT doing so will break Metro Apps. So it's your choice.

To fully disable UAC, use regedit:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

Change EnableLUA from 1 to 0

EDIT: You can also try this to see if it makes any difference:
Drag Drop Not Working in Windows 8
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1x64PWMC Ubuntu14.04x64 MintMate17x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brewed
    CPU
    I7 4970K OC'ed @4.7 GHz
    Motherboard
    MSI-Z97
    Memory
    16 GB G-Skill Trident X @2400MHZ
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450
    Sound Card
    X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional Series
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual HP-W2408
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1200
    Hard Drives
    256 GB M2 sm951, (2) 500GB 850EVO, 5TB, 2 TB Seagate
    PSU
    Antec 850W
    Case
    Antec 1200
    Cooling
    Danger Den H20
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech Performance Mouse MX
    Internet Speed
    35/12mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
Windows 8 has tighten its security more than the previous versions of Windows.

In order to allow drag & drop without any restriction. You must disable UAC completely BUT doing so will break Metro Apps. So it's your choice.

To fully disable UAC, use regedit:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

Change EnableLUA from 1 to 0

EDIT: You can also try this to see if it makes any difference:
Drag Drop Not Working in Windows 8

YES! Everything seems to be working fine. Thanks! Hopefully now I won't need to give permission to edit Program Files anymore, too; that was a bit bothersome.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 (Standard/Home edition)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS G55VW
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3630QM, 2.40GHz
    Motherboard
    Not sure
    Memory
    12GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVidia GTX 660M 2GB
    Browser
    Waterfox 18.0.1
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Great !!! and you are welcome.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1x64PWMC Ubuntu14.04x64 MintMate17x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brewed
    CPU
    I7 4970K OC'ed @4.7 GHz
    Motherboard
    MSI-Z97
    Memory
    16 GB G-Skill Trident X @2400MHZ
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450
    Sound Card
    X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional Series
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual HP-W2408
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1200
    Hard Drives
    256 GB M2 sm951, (2) 500GB 850EVO, 5TB, 2 TB Seagate
    PSU
    Antec 850W
    Case
    Antec 1200
    Cooling
    Danger Den H20
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech Performance Mouse MX
    Internet Speed
    35/12mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
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