Re: Missing "Rename" option in My Documents' files & folders

Just an update. I made a restore point and checked the "Use simple file
sharing (Recommended)" box. So far, so good...

Karen


KLHT wrote:
Hey, Wes,

Thanks for hanging in there with this.

I forgot to mention that not only the Rename function has returned, but
the shortcuts for *everything* I accessed have stopped appearing in My
Documents.

Right-clicking My Documents now gives three tabs: General, Sharing, and
Security. General, Shortcut, and Security on a My Documents shortcut.

The words "Make this folder private" are not there, but the option to
share or not are there. Do not share this folder is checked.

If you paste the following line into Start | Run and click OK...
%userprofile%\my documents

I get this error message:
---------------------------
C:\Documents
---------------------------
Windows cannot find 'C:\Documents'. Make sure you typed the name
correctly, and then try again. To search for a file, click the Start
button, and then click Search.
---------------------------

I have two hard drives split into a number of partitions. They're all
formatted NTFS.

In your first post you mentioned: "I've tried various methods of changing the ownership".

Yeah, as I researched the problem online, I got the impression that it
could have something to do with file sharing or ownership. I guess I
should have been more methodical and kept notes on what I'd tried. I
usually just muddle through and eventually fix my computer problems. I
very rarely, if ever, have posted to ask for help!

Does "Use simple file sharing (Recommended)" appear in Folder Options?

Yes, it's there, and I have it unchecked right now and think I changed
it once or twice as I tried to fix this problem myself. I don't know if
I want to check it now, despite the recommendation, since everything
(even problems I didn't mention, like slow opening programs, especially
Windows Explorer and IE) seems fixed now.

I am on a home wireless network.

So, what do you think now? Any further suggestions?

Thanks again for the help,

Karen


Any thoughts
Wesley Vogel wrote:
Hi Karen,

Glad you seem to gotten Rename back. ;-)

But there seems to be a Problem with your My Documents folder.

But I am confused as to why it would relate to Rename gone fishing. ;-)

First, how many tabs are there when you right click My Documents and select
Properties and what are the titles?

There should just be two: General and Sharing.

If you are right clicking a My Documents shortcut, My Documents Properties
should have three: Target, General and Sharing.

Either way the Sharing tab should have "Make this folder private" not "Do
not share this folder" or "Share this folder".

Can you post back with that info?

Two reasons that I can think of for "Make this folder private" option to be
missing:
1. Your hard drive is formatted FAT32 and not NTFS.
2. You moved your My Documents folder to some location other than
%userprofile%\my documents

If you paste the following line into Start | Run and click OK...

%userprofile%\my documents

Does your My Documents folder open? Or do you get an error?

To see how your drive is formatted open My Computer, right click your hard
drive, click Properties, on the General tab, towards the top it will say
Files system. It will show FAT, FAT32 or NTFS.

I honestly do not know what should appear as an option on the Sharing tab if
your hard drive is formatted FAT32. Mine's formatted NTFS.

In your first post you mentioned: "I've tried various methods of changing
the ownership".

You also stated that you have WinXP SP2 Home Edition. With XP Home you have
to boot into Safe Mode to see the Security tab in order to take Ownership of
files or folders. In order to see the Security tab your hard drive needs to
be formatted NTFS. If the hard drive is formatted FAT32 you will never see
the Security tab.

If I didn't know better I would think that you had XP Pro and turned off
Simple File Sharing.

It is my understanding that you cannot turn off simple file sharing in
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition.

Does "Use simple file sharing (Recommended)" appear in Folder Options?

Start | Run | Type: control folders | Click OK |
On the View tab under Advanced Settings, clear at the bottom.

If it does, place a check mark in the box, click Apply and click OK.

Are you on a network or a domain by chance?

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In news:1157360625.075804.131580@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
KLHT <Karen.Hennigan.Thompson@xxxxxxxxx> hunted and pecked:
Oh boy, this is so weird.

I right clicked, chose Properties, then the Sharing tab. Do not Share
this Folder was checked. I changed it to Share this Folder. I had
dragged all the files and folders out of My Documents, so I dragged one
back in and the Rename option had reappeared. I dragged them all back
in, all fine and renameable! Oddly enough, now, I can change the
sharing back to Do not Share this Folder and the Rename option is
unaffected.

I do not get it. But I'm glad I fixed it. Hope it stays fixed.

Thanks again for your help,
Karen


KLHT wrote:
Wes, sorry, I wasn't clear--there's no error message, just the little
error sound.

*Interestingly*, I have discovered that if I drag any of the files or
folders out of my My Documents folder, the Rename option reappears.
Drag it back in, Rename disappears again. This should be a clue, but,
like you, I can find no info on line. Hadn't thought of the sock
drawer.

I cannot be the only one with this problem.

Also, what about the shortcuts to any file I access (even pics i insert
into an email and the folders they were in) appearing in My Documents.
These things could be related.

If I've worn you out on this one, I apologize. Do you recommend another
forum I could try?

Thanks again for the effort!
Karen

Wesley Vogel wrote:
Hi Karen,

Clicking the folder twice yields an error message boink

What's the error message?

When it pops up, click on it to give it focus, hit Ctrl + C to Copy the
message and then paste it in to a message a post back.

I have no earthly idea why Rename may be missing.

The only rename that I could find in my registry was here, two items.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\MUICache
Value Name: @shell32.dll,-31242
Data Type: REG_SZ
Value Data: Rename this file

Value Name: @shell32.dll,-31254
Data Type: REG_SZ
Value Data: Rename this folder

However, the MUICache is just a list of programs or applications that
have run at one time or another. So this will not help at all.

And I do not know its command name, i.e. &Open, E&xplore, SS&earch,
&Print Directory, S&haring and Security..., Cu&t, &Copy, Create
&Shortcut, &Delete or P&roperties.

Shell32.dll has something to do with the Rename command. And I just
read some where today that shell32.dll cannot be registered.

I have just spent about three hours searching my registry, the web, my
sock drawer and anywhere else I can think of for why Rename would be
missing.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In news:1157340338.324195.211680@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
KLHT <Karen.Hennigan.Thompson@xxxxxxxxx> hunted and pecked:
Thanks, Wes, for the ideas.

Clicking the folder twice yields an error message boink, and the Rename
option is missing from File and folder tasks as well as from the
right-click menu.

I run the usual anit-malware tools (spybot, Adaware, WinDefender,
Spyware Blaster, etc, plus McAfee antivirus & security pakg) regularly.
All updated an reun and rerun wince these problems arose.

Will try running all scans in Safe Mode Next.

Karen


Wesley Vogel wrote:
First, you can rename a file or folder by clicking the name once to
highlight it and click it again to open the name for editing, then
type the new name and then press ENTER.

If you do this too quickly it will the same as a double click, do it
slowly.

You can also...
1. Click the file or folder you want to rename.
2. Under File and Folder Tasks, click Rename this file or Rename this
folder.
3. Type the new name and then press ENTER.

I do not see how Read-only can be related to Rename missing from the
right click context menu.

You cannot tell from a folder's Properties whether or not a folder is
Read-only, Read-only only applies to the files contained in that
folder.

Make sure that you are malware free.

UPDATE your antivirus software and run a full system scan.

UPDATE whatever anti-spyware applications that you have and run a full
system scan with each one.

You might want to start in Safe Mode to run your antivirus and
anti-spyware software.

Running a full system antivirus scan or anti-spyware scan in Safe Mode
can be a good idea. Some viruses and other malware like to conceal
themselves in areas Windows protects while using them. Safe mode will
prevent those applications access and therefore unprotect the viruses
or other malware allowing for easier removal.

How to start Windows in Safe Mode Windows XP
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showtutorial=61#winxo

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In news:1157258715.090577.71560@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
KLHT <Karen.Hennigan.Thompson@xxxxxxxxx> hunted and pecked:
On my WinXP SP2 Home Edition system, with all Windows updates
applied, two problems have arisen.

A month or so ago, shortcuts to all files or folders I'd accessed
began appearing in the My Documents folder. Just a week or so ago,
right-clicking on any of the files or folders in My Documents has
failed to provide the "Rename" option.

After undoing the Read Only check-mark the My Documents folder
properties, and in any of it's contained files or folders, and
applying the change and OKing out, upon reviewing the properties,
the check (actually a minus sign) had reappeared.

However, in other folders, located outside of MyDocs, the folder's
Read Only status does not remove the right click "Rename" option.
So, this is probably irrelevant.

I've tried various methods of changing the ownership, but that
doesn't seem to work, although I admit being a bit confused by all
the potential owners listed. I have a no log-in setup, but both of
the accounts, Karen and Administrator have admin privileges.

I hope I have included the relevant details and that someone will be
so kind as to try to help me with these two problems.

Many thanks for your consideration,
Karen

.