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

 

[Brink]

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

Shawn

 

[Riotvista]

Great fix man....worked well on my vista ultimate 32bit.bravo! good work
keep that up......:D

 

[Brink]

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

Shawn

 

[Anwix]

Thanks very much shawn, i can now rename my folders!
Thanks, thanks.. and thanks, great tutorial!

 

[Brink]

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

Shawn

 

[rcolon85]

This Worked like a charm, Thank you.

I'm very grateful

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Rcolon85, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Shawn

 

[STAR]

Hi guy's i'm new here.

I encouter a problem when trying to rename a file/folder. my explorer hang when trying to rename stuff, and i'm using Windows Vista Ultimate 32bit. hope someone can guide me to this, pls..


EDIT: I have try Cannot Rename or Move a File or Folder in Vista Fix tutorial, none works.

 

[Brink]

Hi STAR, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Have you recently installed anything or changed any settings? If so, then you might try a System Restore using a restore point dated before you had this problem.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76905-system-restore-how.html


If not, then you can try a sfc /scannow command to see if it can find and fix and bad system files that may be the cause.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/66978-system-files-sfc-command.html

If all else fails, then you can do a Repair install.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[STAR]

Thx for the warm welcome Brink, i did a scan with hijackthis. u wanna take alook at the log file?

 

[Brink]

I'm not great at reading that log, but you can post it anyway to see if others may recognize something in it that could help.

 

[STAR]

sfc /scannow command to see if it can find and fix and bad system files that may be the cause.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/66978-system-files-sfc-command.html

Shawn

I have try this, from the first step, after the scan i get this msg below:

Verification 100% complete. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
Details are included in the CBS.Log windir\Logs\CBS\CBS.log. For example C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log

The system file repair changes will take effect after the next reboot.

 

[Brink]

You might try the repair install.

 

[londonguy28]

hey i applied the reg 32 file like u stated and then restarted but i am still getting the same error how come and how can i fix it ? thanks again chris

 

[londonguy28]

it's still leaving th message error after i did as instructed how can i fix this

 

[Brink]

Hi Londonguy28, and welcome to Vista Forums.

It depends on where and what file you are trying to rename or move. You may need to take ownership of it first depending on this. Where is the file located at?

Shawn

 

[londonguy28]

Dude i just am on the desktop and any new folder i create i cannot rename i also cant rename any other folder at all i tried the reg file 32 bit version which matches my operating system specs and not working i have also tried to take ownership that didnt work wethier and before u say anything no i dont haVE a restore point i am running the acer AM1200-E1521A desktop computer with AMD dual core anyways

 

[Brink]

Since it involves a New Folder, see if this tutorial can help.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/69837-new-folder.html

 

[londonguy28]

same **** it never worked i think as the pc is only what ? 2 weeks old i will take it back to futureshop for an exchange as the back hdmi port doesngt seem to work as it's plugged into the back of the pc and also into my new HP lc monitor and the monitor says no input when i switch it over to hdmi so yeah it should be a good reason for thwem to trade it in ya know

i mean the hdmi cord that is white and black

 

[Brink]

I hope that they will trade it in for you for one that works properly then.