Unable 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. I cannot rename folders through Windows Explorer anywhere on my machine, including on other drives.

When I try to do so, I receive an error titled "Rename Folder" that says "Can't find the specified file. Make sure you specify the correct path and file name." Then when I click Try Again or Cancel, I get another error titled "Rename" that says "The file or folder does not exist."

As far as I can tell, nothing else is wrong with my computer, but I'm pulling my hair out trying to fix this problem. I don't know for sure if superuser is the right place to ask this question, but feel free to redirect me.

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: http://www.reddit.com/r/windows8/comments/1xexqg/cant_rename_a_folder_in_windows_81_any_ideas_my/

Booting in safe mode as suggested here: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows8_1-files/cant-rename-or-move-folders-in-81/0e2209a2-bb29-4f01-9830-c175de3420f3

SFC /scannow as suggested here: http://www.networksteve.com/windows/topic.php/KB2911106_regression_bug:_Cannot_rename_any_folders_in_Windows_E/?TopicId=61599&Posts=1

Tried removing registry keys and windows update KB2984006 as suggested here: http://www.surfacetablethelp.com/2014/11/cannot-renamemove-folders-and-files-in-windows-8-1.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.

Alex Pritchard

Posted 2015-04-05T17:58:51.680

Reputation: 161

Request for clarification: is the issue with all folders, or just particular ones such as those in the Windows folder? Also, have you tried alternate directory tools, such as QDir ( http://www.softwareok.com/?seite=Freeware/Q-Dir ), to see if they have the same issue? If they're OK, it might be that Explorer is damaged.

– DrMoishe Pippik – 2015-04-05T18:54:55.947

It appears to be with all folders, on any drive location, from any user. Interesting suggestion about alternate directory tools. QDir has no problems renaming folders, so definitely seems Explorer-related. – Alex Pritchard – 2015-04-05T20:48:59.433

1oops... since Explorer is an intrinsic part of Windows, I do not know of any quick fix for the issue; it appears you've tried the most prudent repairs, particularly SFC (as Administrator, I assume). Though you could try reinstalling Windows, that would lose most customization you've done and require a plethora of updates. If defaulting to QDir or alternative file manager is not acceptable, perhaps someone else here can help resolve the issue. – DrMoishe Pippik – 2015-04-06T00:38:25.780

Thanks for the thought! I think for the moment I'm working around it rather than breaking down and reinstalling Windows, partially because I see so many posts of other people who have that problem that eventually just gave up and reinstalled, which means that there is no real fix to be found in their threads! I feel like if I can tough it out and find a solution, maybe someone else can benefit. – Alex Pritchard – 2015-04-06T05:38:44.217

You might get away with a refresh instead of a full reinstall. – Karan – 2015-04-07T20:30:11.577

I have this same problem. I can even rename folders using the command prompt without administrative priveleges, but cannot rename any folder on any drive using explorer. – Devil's Advocate – 2016-06-02T16:55:30.097

If you can rename from a command prompt, but not through Explorer, that would scream to me the possibility of a misbehaving antivirus utility with hooks through Explorer or a stealth virus that is escaping scans. I would go through not merely safe mode, but to fire up the System COnfiguration tool and turn off everything I didn't know I needed - some of those things come up even in safe mode. – David W – 2016-06-02T17:02:57.637

I shut down WebRoot protection and that didn't help. I have already removed everything I cannot identify from startup using Autoruns. I'm chasing another lead right now. Will post results. – Devil's Advocate – 2016-06-02T17:08:29.913

@Devil'sAdvocate Do you have Acrobat installed by any chance ? – pun – 2016-06-02T17:12:00.473

This PC was just rebuilt by our tech contractor. That was the first thing I uninstalled. So it was there. – Devil's Advocate – 2016-06-02T17:12:42.993

Do you happen to have a utility called "odrive"? – Devil's Advocate – 2016-06-02T17:12:52.303

@Devil'sAdvocate No I don't have odrive. Did you remove Acrobat using the cleaner or from add & remove section ? Also is uninstalling Webroot an option ?

– pun – 2016-06-02T17:15:10.527

I removed it from Programs & Features. I could uninstall webroot, but our tech would not be happy :) – Devil's Advocate – 2016-06-02T17:15:45.400

You could ask them to re-install it anyways. We do this all the time. I would use uninstaller for such scenarios – pun – 2016-06-02T17:20:03.397

I should also mention this is Windows 10 for me. Same symptoms though. – Devil's Advocate – 2016-06-02T17:26:10.123

I have the same problem on Win 8.1 and it is driving me insane – gyozo kudor – 2016-06-03T07:05:10.587

@gyozokudor did you try my solution below? – Devil's Advocate – 2016-06-08T17:17:53.600

no, I didn't like the side effects. I rename my folders from total commander or command line. For some reason it works from there. – gyozo kudor – 2016-06-09T07:33:13.047

Answers

Alright, after trying everything in this thread and a few additional posts on reddit and MS forums, I finally found something that works.

This Sevenforums - Default File Type Associations tutorial has an entry for Directory - Directory protocol associations which links to this reg file. I ran it then rebooted and now I can rename folders! Here is a pastebin of the reg file if you're paranoid like me and want to glance over it first.

It seems it may have come with some slight side effects, but I'll take it.

Devil's Advocate

Posted 2015-04-05T17:58:51.680

Reputation: 1 397

Alas, I must admit that I ultimately ended up upgrading to Windows 10, WHICH STILL DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. So I did a full reinstall from scratch, and that did fix the problem. So, I cannot test your solution, but I'm glad you at least found something that works! – Alex Pritchard – 2016-06-03T23:27:06.693

1Is this solution also available without the side effects? :) – gyozo kudor – 2016-06-09T07:31:08.717

I'm not positive this caused that but I was able to fix it too. – Devil's Advocate – 2016-06-09T11:03:45.570

This just happened to me AGAIN and this time the reg file did not fix it... – Devil's Advocate – 2016-06-22T22:03:13.963

I have three suggestions. Try out and let me know:

Copy the explorer.exe from your wife's computer into yours using a differnt file manager or cmd prompt after ending the explorer.exe process from task manager. This will solve the problem if it occurred because the executable was wonky.
Get the latest possible genuine Windows 8.1 image, mount it in a virtual drive from within Windows itself and choose to upgrade.
Refresh your Windows installation. Follow the instructions from Microsoft here. BE CAREFUL. YOU WILL LOSE INSTALLED APPS AND APPDATA

Once solved, I would suggest either using the default, Microsoft Security Essentials or any other good antivirus with minimal disruptive behavior.

Anish Majumder

Posted 2015-04-05T17:58:51.680

Reputation: 131

1I don't think it's a virus. It's almost certainly registry corruption. – Devil's Advocate – 2016-06-02T19:26:12.823

Why would you want to reinstall windows for this? – gyozo kudor – 2016-06-03T07:02:49.913

option 2 won't reinstall, but will probably solve any corruption in Windows files. It keeps all files, settings and softwares option 3 is a kind-of "reinstall" step but it is a drastic one for when you've tried everything but nothing works. – Anish Majumder – 2016-06-05T18:32:38.607

-1

I just posted on this web site (3rd Sept 2016):

"Windows 10 file explorer won't rename any New folder created" with link below

Windows 10 file explorer won't rename any New folder created

Trying to better document this issue, I found this post link appearing on the right! Brilliant how the links are automatically suggested. I am just amazed by this web site.

So, my W10 issue is very similar to this "old" one. Root cause unknown until know. It is repetitive for me (happened on more than one of my personal PCs after upgrading to W10).

Based on at least three web threads on this very issue, it does not look like a random corruption of the registry but something that happens in a specific setting up context (which one precisely I don't know - I suspect without verification that as a user, I systematically relocate all windows user folders, which may have caused a problem in the upgrade W7->W10)), indeed requiring a registry repair to mitigate.

I guess that W8.1 and W10 deeper testing on it will highlight this problem at some point, which will trigger the production of a fix at MS in due course.

The link above points to the registry keys I & others changed to solve the issue, at least for my config. It has to be tested to see if it also relevant here and can be generalised.

I am still concerned as I don't know what I did & what are the potential side effects. Only it worked. So, I would appreciate input from engineers with knowledge on this just to reassure that this solution is not foolish.

I just saw that someone (w32sh) confirmed firmly - without any deeper insight as to what happened - the more elaborate solution that can be found on http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/error-rename-move-folders-windows-10/

From memory, the solution proposed fully rebuilds (correctly populates) the keys that need to be rebuilt instead of simply deleting 5 keys as I did.

acontrario Brussels

acontrario

Posted 2015-04-05T17:58:51.680

Reputation: 31

So what is the solution to the author's problem? – Ramhound – 2016-09-03T19:24:02.400

Please see amended post this time with hyperlink. Sorry for that. – acontrario – 2016-09-05T19:17:10.617

At least this is closer to an answer. If you want to hear more feedback on it, come into the Root Access, when you have enough reputation. – Ramhound – 2016-09-05T19:26:06.330