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]

Hi MilesAhead,

I believe I have seen something somewhere about video files having this problem. Something about them still being owned or in use by the video program. What program are you using to process the video files?

It could be a quirk with Explorer though. As a test, see if you get the same problem while doing this in the built-in Administrator account.

 

[MilesAhead]

Hi MilesAhead,

I believe I have seen something somewhere about video files having this problem. Something about them still being owned or in use by the video program. What program are you using to process the video files?

Seems to happen esp. if you create a VIDEO_TS folder. Seems like FAVC and DVD Flick both do it.

It could be a quirk with Explorer though. As a test, see if you get the same problem while doing this in the built-in Administrator account.

I have that set up so I'll check it out. Seems like this didn't happen so often before so I'm wondering if killing one of those "notification" services contributes to it? I try to keep Explorer from running through all the files on the HD else I'd never get a turn to access the thing(well I'd have to wait 20 minutes sometimes if I didn't turn all that stuff off like indexing, mobsync etc..)

If I get any clues I'll post.

 

[yaye]

Hello everyone. I came across this problem, and the registry file (64-bit) did nothing for me. But I think I've solved it, and I may as well document it here.

Through the use of the excellent Process Monitor tool, it seems that the folder rename routine in Vista iterates through all of the Common Shell Folder values in the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\User Shell Folders to verify their existence. If there is a problem, such as the destination doesn't exist or the value data is incorrect, the rename/move operation fails. In my case, the CommonMusic value name was %PUBLIC\Music (it should be %PUBLIC%\Music). Fixing this restored the functionality.

This is my current, working User Shell Folders key:

{3D644C9B-1FB8-4f30-9B45-F670235F79C0} = %PUBLIC%\Downloads
Common AppData = %ProgramData%
Common Desktop = %PUBLIC%\Desktop
Common Documents = %PUBLIC%\Documents
Common Programs = %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
Common Start Menu = %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
Common Startup = %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
Common Templates = %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Templates
CommonMusic = %PUBLIC%\Music
CommonPictures = %PUBLIC%\Pictures
CommonVideo = %PUBLIC%\Videos

All values are of type REG_EXPAND_SZ (except default, which isn't set)

You may need to log off/on, or restart the explorer processes.

NB: Please be careful with the registry, and especially this key, and more-so if you've altered any default locations. Always backup the key before you start. If in doubt, don't do it.

 

[acequest]

To alert everyone as to why this error is happening, it is due to our Registry Cleaners. I have conducted my own experiments with RegistryFix and Registry Mechanic. After doing a clean install of Vista Business and installing SP1, there was no problem creating new folders anywhere in the system and renaming them.

I ran the registry cleaners and found that in each case they would modify the relative Keys which are explained in this thread.

So run your Registry Cleaners very carefully. Delete the obvious minor errors and choose ignore for the registry keys that pertain to the functions being spoken about in this thread.

Registry cleaners and Windows on board maintenance utilities worked great for XP but Vista has posed new challenges to Registry Optimizer developers. Just be watchful and don't choose to delete all errors or you'll possibly not be able to restore the modified Keys.

On the other hand, if this experience is new, you may have the backup in your Registry Cleaner which will restore the Keys to their normal values.

Good luck because this one and the disk cleanup have lots of dead-ends on Google. This forum-thread has been referred to in many other forums, so it looks like the manual editing and the Keys provided by Brink are helping many folks. In my case and many others the manual editing or the use of .Reg files is not working. Vista is a fickled animal...

By the way, Registry Cleaners are also corrupting the Keys responsible for Disk Cleanup.

 

[xaudiox]

These fixes did not work for me...
I have this problem only i do not get any error messages after i try to rename a new folder, it just reverts to "new folder" when i press enter.
I also cannot move the new folder to another destination, no error message with that one also.
It started happening after i had problems with the "public" folder in "users", the public folder was displaying on my desktop and i did not want it there so i deleted it via the registry.
Is there another fix for this ? or a way to get my public folder back, mabe that would fix the "new folder" renaming problem.

Regards xaudiox.

 

[Brink]

Hello Xaudiox, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Doing a System Restore using a restore point dated before you deleted the public folder may fix this for you.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[xaudiox]

Hi mate , glad you replied.
The thing is i made a backup of my system using ghost unaware of the problem and have since restored that backup, it has no restore points.
Have also tried the repair but it fails on the last stage at 25%.
I really dont want to reinstall the o/s because i have spent ages tweaking it the way i want it.
Cant help feeling there must be a way of fixing it !
Ive got XP and Ubunu on other drives, is there a workaround there ?

 

[Brink]

You might see if fixing the New Folder can help as well. In addition, this attached REG file below is to restore all of the default Public folder locations. Right click on it and click on merge, then restart the computer to apply. Hopefully with the restored public folder, it may solve this for you as well.

 

[xaudiox]

OK thanks, will try when i get home off this terrible night shift !!
Will report back in a few hours.

Regards, xaudiox.

Nice system specs by the way !

 

[xaudiox]

Tried all mentioned now and still no luck , i guess its time for a reinstall.....

 

[Brink]

I'm sorry to hear that xaudiox. You might give a Repair (upgrade) install a try first to see if it might can save you a full clean reinstall.

 

[xaudiox]

Done a complete reinstall, but now i still have a problem with the Public folder.
It is in its correct location c:\users\public, but it is also showing on my desktop on a standard account, how do i remove it from the desktop ?
When i switch to my administrator account it is not there.
Cannot rename or delete it, the only option it gives with right click is "copy".
I am quite happy with it in its normal location but why is it showing on my desktop as well ?
Any ideas ?

Regards, xaudiox.

 

[Brink]

xuadiox,

Are you referring to the C:\Users\Public\Desktop folder?

Could you post a screenshot of this to help make sure I have the right folder first?

 

[xaudiox]

I have a "public" folder on my desktop when opened it has public music, pictures etc..
Its as if its a duplicate of the C:\Users\Public\ folder.
Hope that helps, will post a capture when i get home if you like.

Just found a possible fix here, will try later.
http://www.computerperformance.co.uk/vista/vista_registry_public.htm

Update: the above fix worked, you should add it to your tutorials !!
Thanks for your help.

Regards, xaudiox.

 

[Brink]

Thank you for the update xuadiox. It has been added to the list of tutorials to make.

Shawn

 

[yahyakhan8]

hi! my little sister downloaded a song from zshare onto my desktop. I deleted the file, which turned out not to be a music file, from its folder but the icon can't be deleted. the file size is 0.0 bytes and when i try to delete it tells me the file is no longer in the location specified and to try to locate it. well i've already deleted it, i just want to get the icon removed. I tried to download the registry (step 2) but it didnt work. the icon will still not leave my desktop.

 

[Brink]

Hello Yahyakhan8, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Did you already try refreshing the desktop or restarting the computer to see if it was just a ghost icon?

If you did, and since you have the 32-bit Vistam then you might see if the program Unlocker can help remove it for you.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[g4ngst3r]

it works great thanks for sharing admin....

 

[Brink]

You're welcome g4ngst3r, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Shawn

 

[Sandip]

yeah its working perfectly for me ..... thnx mate