Cannot Rename or Move a File or Folder in Vista Fix

Cannot Rename or Move a File or Folder in Vista Fix​

   Information

If you recieve the error The File or Folder does not exist when you cannot move or rename a file or folder, then this will show you how to fix this problem in Vista.

   Note

This problem usually occurs when this registry key or it's subkeys below gets corrupted, changed, or deleted. This is usually done by a registry cleaning program that was allowed to delete (fix) something it found wrong that should not have been.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\FolderDescriptions

   Tip

If the steps below do not help, then take ownership of the file or folder, then try to move or rename it again. For how, see: How to Take Ownership of a Item in Vista

EXAMPLE: The File or folder does not exist. Error Message

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STEP ONE

Disable Offline Files

   Note

This will only apply to the Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions. If you do not have one of these editions, then skip this section and go to STEP TWO below.

1. Open the Control Panel (Classic View).​

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2. Click on the Offline Files icon.​

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3. Click on the Disable Offline Files button. (See screenshot below step 5)​

NOTE: If it says Enable Offline Files instead, then click on it and click Apply and then click Disable Offline Files.​

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4. Click on Continue in the UAC prompt.​

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5. Click on OK.​

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6. Click on Yes to restart the computer. (See sceenshot below)​

WARNING: To prevent any loss of data, be sure to save and close all open programs before clicking Yes.​

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STEP TWO

Restore Registry Settings

   Note

• This will restore the default entries and settings for the registry key at the top of the tutorial. Be sure to download the 32 bit or 64 bit version for your version of Vista. To see what bit version you have of Vista, open the Control Panel (Classic View) and click the System icon, or right click Computer in the Start Menu and click Properties. You will see the bit version under the System type section.
• If this involves a New folder, then you should also do this tutorial. See: How to Fix New Folder in Vista

1. For the 32 bit version of Vista -​

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A) Click on the download button below to download the reg file below.​

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Fix_Rename_32_Bit_ Vista.reg​

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B) Go to step 3.​

2. For the 64 bit version of Vista -​

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A) Click on the download button below to download the reg file below.​

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Fix_Rename_64_Bit_Vista.reg​

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3. Save the .reg file to the Desktop.​

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4. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.​

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5. Click on the Run button in the Security Warning pop-up.​

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6. Click on Continue (UAC-Vista) or Yes (UAC-Windows 7), Yes, and then OK when prompted.​

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7. Restart the computer to apply the restoration.​

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8. When done, you can delete the .reg file (on Desktop).​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Fix New Folder in Vista
• How to Pin a Folder to the Start Menu in Vista
• How to Repair and Verify the Integrity of Vista System Files with System File Checker
• How to Restore Previous Versions of a File and Folder in Vista
• How to Open and Change Folder Options in Vista
• How To Perform a Repair Installation For Vista
• How to Do a System Restore in Vista
• How to Take Ownership of a Item in Vista
• How to Set and Unset the Read-only File and Folder Attribute in Vista
• How to Fix Game Shortcut Links in Vista Games Explorer

 

[Sureshkoorse]

I have full control on this directory.
I am saving it My pictures directory.

But I tried to create folders in C:\temp and I cannot rename the New Folder

Appreciate your reply

 

[Brink]

Are you able to create and rename a new folder in another location, then copy it to the C:\temp location as a workaround?

 

[Sureshkoorse]

No I am able to create a new folder anywhere, able to delete the folder except Renaming the folder is an issue

Suhas

 

[Brink]

Suhas,

As a test, create a new administrator account and see if you are able to rename folders while logged on to it instead.

 

[Sureshkoorse]

Hi Shawn,

Thank you, After creating a new administrator account I was able rename files and folders.

I just copied all the files under my name to new account.

Vista is a pain. I do not know which registry setting got corrupted.

Thanks again

Suhas

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Suhas. I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted out.

 

[mickm]

I have just read your instructions and i am pleased to say that it has worked,

Many thanks.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Mick, and welcome to Vista Forums.

 

[MilesAhead]

Hi Shawn,

Thank you, After creating a new administrator account I was able rename files and folders.

I just copied all the files under my name to new account.

Vista is a pain. I do not know which registry setting got corrupted.

Thanks again

Suhas

There seems to be a little prank registry hack going around. I got it on Vista64 and somebody I know on another board also had it. Something about Active Desktop No Change or Explorer No Change.. but even with one of those "delete on next boot" utilities I wasn't able to delete files. Malwarebytes anti-malware picked it off in both cases. I don't know if that happened in this case but it sounds like it.

 

[Rully64]

Thanks Shawn,

The problem was fixed now, Thanks Very Much!


Rully

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Rully, and welcome to Vista Forums.

 

[gobiju]

Hi,

I too have the same problem.
I Tried both the steps but still its not working.
Its not working on the Administrator user only, for other users its working fine.
Please help.

Biju

 

[Brink]

Hello Biju, and welcome to Vista Forums.

If this started not to long a go, then you might see if doing a system restore using a restore point dated before this problem to see if it may be able to fix it for you.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[gobiju]

Thanks Shawn,

I tried system restore also. I don't have a restore point older to before the problem began. Please help.

Regards,
Biju

 

[Brink]

Biju,

You can create a new administrator account for yourself. If it works ok in it, then copy the contents of your old account's C:\Users\(user-name) folders into the corresponding new account's C:\Users\(user-name) folders. Afterwards, you can delete the old account from within the new one.

 

[imcsp1]

I have a file ([Torrentsworld.net] - file name) which I deleted, however, it shows that the file is still there. I click on the properties of the file and it shows that it has 0 bytes under size of file and on size on disk. I tried to follow all of the steps suggested, but none of the steps seem to allow me to delete the file. I keep getting the same result: Item Not Found (Item no longer located in...) Any other suggestion on how I can remove this file? Thanks in advance!

Chris

 

[Brink]

Hello Chris, and welcome to Vista Forums.

It may just be a ghost of the file. Have you already tried refreshing (F5) the window, or restarting the computer to see if will go away afterwards.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[imcsp1]

Hi Shawn,

Thanks for the help! Yes, I have restarted the system many times. I have had this file on my system for months and I was hoping that one of the steps in the beginning of this tutorial would help, but for some reason none of the suggestions seem to allow me to remove this file. Any other suggestions that you can think of that may help?

Thanks!

Chris

 

[imcsp1]

Shawn,

If it makes a difference, the file is located C:\Users\Christopher\Voyetra\Downloads.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Brink]

Chris,

You might see if you can use Unlocker on the file to finish deleting and removing it.