Rename folder not working

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

Hi - silly little problem, but can't find anything about it on the technical
KB.

Using Windows XP, fully up to date, and have an occasional problem.
Trying to rename a folder (or file) the usual way - right click, select
rename etc, and I sometimes get told that it cannot rename because the
file/folder is in use by another application. I'm not daft - I make
absolutely sure nothing else is running, and still get the same problem. If
I try other files and/or folders they are OK.
It's an intermittent problem, not crucial but irritating.
Any ideas ?
 
Carole said:
Hi - silly little problem, but can't find anything about it on the
technical KB.

Using Windows XP, fully up to date, and have an occasional problem.
Trying to rename a folder (or file) the usual way - right click,
select rename etc, and I sometimes get told that it cannot rename
because the file/folder is in use by another application. I'm not
daft - I make absolutely sure nothing else is running, and still get
the same problem. If I try other files and/or folders they are OK.
It's an intermittent problem, not crucial but irritating.
Any ideas ?
Click to expand...

lol, no, you're not daft, but there are a few possibilities that cause this.
-- If the folder contains a system file, it cannot be done.
-- It's possible a background task which you cannot see running is using a
file in that folder.
-- The file may no longer be used, but windows still thinks it's being used
because it wasn't properly released from RAM.

You cannot rename most of the "My ... " folders becuase they're system
folders. eg my documents, my pictures, things like that.

Perhaps if you were more specific someone could help you better.

Pop
 
It's a very average folder containing 20 word documents and nothing else.
Can't imagine what could be running in background that would tie up a folder
of word docs. ???
 
Just a heads up ... sure you're not doing this ... but catches me a lot.

Say you have a tree of folders ... sub-folder .... sub-folder ....
And you select one of the files or folders down below the folder you wish to
rename.

If the focus is on a file below the folder you wish to rename, if you
right-click on the folder you want to rename and try to rename it, you
can't. Windows considers the folder in use.

You must select the folder, then right-click and rename. Causing the lower
folder or file to lose focus.

This sometimes catches me ... especially when I'm tired.
 
See what you're saying.
I'm sure that I'm on a top-level folder each time - and do a right
click/rename as you say on that folder.

It's happened several times, so I've taken time to check and re-check what
I'm doing. But.........you may be right - I'll double check next time it
happens.

thanks
 
It's a Windows bug. Happens to me frequently, especially after examining
a folder's contents. The only way I've found to cure it is to restart,
but that almost always works.

Craig
 
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