Won't let me create New Folders

  • Thread starter Thread starter JuneBug
  • Start date Start date
J

JuneBug

After a month or two honeymoon with my new computer last summer, Windows
Vista quit letting me create new file folders!!! This is really, really
annoying, needless to say. I would really appreciate it if someone could tell
me how to fix this.

The other thing is that Windows Vista crashed this weekend and lost some of
my files - and the start menu quit working. I think some of the indexes got
screwed up or something. I don't know what brought this on except that we had
a couple of power failures - and the machine doesn't seem to run chkdsk
automatically on restart. If I started the machine and walked away and didn't
see the prompt, then I've been using a 'dirty disk' for a week or two and it
finally crashed. Or I also installed wireless networking. Also Windows Update
downloads automatically and could have downloaded something incompatible with
my software. So who knows what might have caused this ...

I couldn't restore either - now if I ask for Windows restore, it comes up
with an error message.

I've been using DOS and windows machines for 20 years and I've never had
this happen to me before. I've always had virus checkers and been
conscientious about backing up my data.

I'm not too happy at the prospect of having a crippled machine.
 
JuneBug said:
After a month or two honeymoon with my new computer last summer, Windows
Vista quit letting me create new file folders!!! This is really, really
annoying, needless to say. I would really appreciate it if someone could tell
me how to fix this.

The other thing is that Windows Vista crashed this weekend and lost some of
my files - and the start menu quit working. I think some of the indexes got
screwed up or something. I don't know what brought this on except that we had
a couple of power failures - and the machine doesn't seem to run chkdsk
automatically on restart. If I started the machine and walked away and didn't
see the prompt, then I've been using a 'dirty disk' for a week or two and it
finally crashed. Or I also installed wireless networking. Also Windows Update
downloads automatically and could have downloaded something incompatible with
my software. So who knows what might have caused this ...

I couldn't restore either - now if I ask for Windows restore, it comes up
with an error message.

I've been using DOS and windows machines for 20 years and I've never had
this happen to me before. I've always had virus checkers and been
conscientious about backing up my data.

I'm not too happy at the prospect of having a crippled machine.
Click to expand...

Safe Mode - F8 key at bootup, remember? :-)

Try booting into safe mode, see what happens, run scandisk etc. Take it
from there. From my experience, a lot of these problems are rectified
just by booting into safe mode and then immediately rebooting into
regular mode.
 
Thanks, I'll give that a try - actually I think I did boot up in Safe Mode
once or twice - but only to run chkdsk - and by then it was too late.

JuneBug

:
 
Yeah. I was afraid of that.

Unfortunately when they sell you computers these days, they don't include
the operating system cds. So I guess I'll just have to purchase some of
those from Best Buy or Gateway or whoever.

However, it quit letting me create new file folders a looong time ago - so
I'm thinking that problem is unrelated to the disk crash.

Anybody have any ideas? Could I have inadvertently altered some setting to
not allow me to create new file folders?

Thanks,

JuneBug


:
 
JuneBug,

When they sell you computers these days 'they are obliged to supply you with
an option to re-install the operating system' that means either a set of
recovery disks or an image of the operating system on a hidden partition on
your computer. If none came with your PC then contact the supply and demand
to know where they are. A computer with no way of recovery is totally
useless. You should 'not' have to pay for something that should be there by
default.

--
--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..
 
After a month or two honeymoon with my new computer last summer, Windows
Vista quit letting me create new file folders!!! This is really, really
annoying, needless to say. I would really appreciate it if someone could tell
me how to fix this.

The other thing is that Windows Vista crashed this weekend and lost some of
my files - and the start menu quit working. I think some of the indexes got
screwed up or something. I don't know what brought this on except that we had
a couple of power failures - and the machine doesn't seem to run chkdsk
automatically on restart. If I started the machine and walked away and didn't
see the prompt, then I've been using a 'dirty disk' for a week or two and it
finally crashed. Or I also installed wireless networking. Also Windows Update
downloads automatically and could have downloaded something incompatible with
my software. So who knows what might have caused this ...

I couldn't restore either - now if I ask for Windows restore, it comes up
with an error message.

I've been using DOS and windows machines for 20 years and I've never had
this happen to me before. I've always had virus checkers and been
conscientious about backing up my data.

I'm not too happy at the prospect of having a crippled machine.
Click to expand...

If you've had multiple power failures and aren't running a UPS then
very likely your file system got damaged based on what you're seeing.
You can always run chkdsk MANUALLY. Have you? From a command prompt?

NEVER run Windows Update automatically. It simply can't be trusted.
You seem close to the point where throwing in the towel in the long
run will waste less time. Little point in running a crippled system,
time to reinstall Windows. If you haven't yet you could also try a
repair if you have a Vista DVD.
 
JuneBug said:
Yeah. I was afraid of that.

Unfortunately when they sell you computers these days, they don't include
the operating system cds. So I guess I'll just have to purchase some of
those from Best Buy or Gateway or whoever.
Click to expand...

As a couple of others have stated, there are usually backup cab files
etc include but installed on a hidden partition...which is probably why
you haven't noticed it when you've been using your file manager. There
are programs available that will let one observe this partition though I
can't think of any right now off the top of my head.....googling should
return some pretty fast results though.

However, it quit letting me create new file folders a looong time ago - so
I'm thinking that problem is unrelated to the disk crash.

Anybody have any ideas? Could I have inadvertently altered some setting to
not allow me to create new file folders?
Click to expand...

Not totally up to date here on all the ins and outs of Vista's
permissions settings but it's definitely one aspect you should check
out.......if I remember correctly, there are the general settings and
then a more detailed subgroup of settings which can be refined. Check
to make sure you have total administrator rights over your whole system
and also make sure you have permissions access for making new folders
while logged on as "user" rather than "administrator".

PS If I remember correctly, the MS has a tutorial on Vista's new
permissions capabilities.
 
Adam Albright said:
If you've had multiple power failures and aren't running a UPS then
very likely your file system got damaged based on what you're seeing.
You can always run chkdsk MANUALLY. Have you? From a command prompt?

NEVER run Windows Update automatically. It simply can't be trusted.
You seem close to the point where throwing in the towel in the long
run will waste less time. Little point in running a crippled system,
time to reinstall Windows. If you haven't yet you could also try a
repair if you have a Vista DVD.
Click to expand...

Amazing. You gave some good advice without insulting anyone. Very good
Adam. There is hope for you after all.
 
Amazing. You gave some good advice without insulting anyone. Very good
Adam. There is hope for you after all.
Click to expand...

Must be 90% of my posts are too far over your head for you to even
begin to grasp what I'm talking about.
 
:

If you've had multiple power failures and aren't running a UPS then
very likely your file system got damaged based on what you're seeing.
You can always run chkdsk MANUALLY. Have you? From a command prompt?

NEVER run Windows Update automatically. It simply can't be trusted.
You seem close to the point where throwing in the towel in the long
run will waste less time. Little point in running a crippled system,
time to reinstall Windows. If you haven't yet you could also try a
repair if you have a Vista DVD.
Click to expand...

"Never run Windows Update automatically" - I've heard those words before. I
guess I'm just too trusting. Or lazy. :)

Yes, I did run chkdsk afterwards. The system did something on its own as
well without me telling it to - maybe it ran chkdsk automatically - if so, it
wasn't the old chkdsk I know and love - it seemed to be repairing all kinds
of indexes - I guess what I'm saying is that it did a lot more than I
remember the chkdsk on my previous systems doing. But I also ran chkdsk
afterwards.

So far some of my data files have 0 content or size - so my current backup
is shot to hell because I don't want to inadvertently overwrite good files
with bad ones - and it is a hefty one. (20 years without a disk crash, you
can imagine) ;)

Actually my programs seem to be working - but the Start Menu shortcuts for
some of them got trashed - so I've recreated some of those. The other issue
is that I cannot upgrade all my programs to the latest versions - especially
since I got cut back to part time - I simply cannot afford it. But I did the
compatibility check and my programs were all working fairly well albeit with
a few quirks, especially Dreamweaver MX. So I hope they weren't slowly
trashing the hard drive. If so, it took them a year to do it. They also may
have something to do with my not being able to create file folders?

You all are right - I may have to do a total reinstall, but I'll have to
wait to find a huge block of time to be able to do that. This is so
inconvenient - a pox on Vista!

Anyway, no one has come forth with any ideas about why the system won't let
me create new file folders - this started happening shortly after I got the
computer last summer and way before the above mentioned power failures. Is
there some kind of setting that takes away your option to create file folders?
 
Thanks to both of you for that information. I bought the computer, a Gateway,
at Best Buy, and I didn't realize it had that - or if they told me, I forgot.
Geez. I will call them or get out my manual and find out how to use this.
 
Again, thank you for the suggestion. I tried looking around for settings, but
I don't have much experience with Windows system administration, and I didn't
have any luck finding anything. I will try what you suggested.
 
Anyway, no one has come forth with any ideas about why the system won't let
me create new file folders - this started happening shortly after I got the
computer last summer and way before the above mentioned power failures. Is
there some kind of setting that takes away your option to create file folders?
Click to expand...

I did a little searching at Google and came upon the following thread
which offers some possible suggestions.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/archive/index.php/t-162334.html

It is possible one of your applications added something to the
right-click options thus interfering with some of Vista's standard
options for right click on making/renaming folders. Also could be some
Microsoft Update that's causing this. You can disable any/all Windows
Updates then put them back one a time to try to find what if any are
causing this.

If you got the time before totally reinstalling your system I would
give one of the many Registry Cleaners a shot. Since almost all let
you scan your system for free once you download the sample, but don't
actually change anything unless you buy it you'll get a detailed list
of the "problems". The time consuming part is to one by one step
through them all and see if anything impacts your particular problem.
Something in your Registry is probably cross linked or not configured
correctly or one or more of Vista's system files are corrupt or
missing. The problem of course is trying to find out what exactly.
 
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