Annoying Windows 7 copying files that I want to move

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I have been trying to move some files from one drive to another. I highlight about 15 files and then drag to the other drive. My problem is after I start highlighting the file stupid Windows 7 will start copying them. I have to stop my highlighting, tell windows to stop copying and start high lighting again, only to have it start copying again. This is making it a very long process of trying to move these files. I went to stupid Geek or someplace and did what they said:
HKEY/current/user/desktop then in the right column found DragWidth and DragHeight and changed the values to 20 from 4. Seems like it made things even
worse. Can anyone help me fix this so it won’t automatically copy without me telling it to?

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Are you right clicking on the selected files then dragging them across, this will give you a context menu on which you can select move rather than copy.

On the other hand, if they are successfully copied then just delete the originals – same result!

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Why not CUT and PASTE?

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Hold Ctrl key while highlighting individual files. When done highlighting all necessary files, drag them where you wish.

Alternately if files are one after the other, hold Shift key, highlight first and last entry. All entries between will be highlighted. Then drag bunch.

I hope this is what you are talking about, and helps.

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Exactly what I have been doing. I hold the Ctrl key and high light all the files I want to move. But, while I am doing that Windows starts copying those files. I have to stop and click cancel, then go up to edit and click delete copying. Then I have to start all over. All I want to do is move the highlighted files. When I can move them I do it by right clicking and then click move. I don’t want to move a bunch of copied files though. Just the original files. After I posted here, I tried
it again and I managed to get about 30 files moved without Windows copying. I hope that meant that my changing the value was finally working.

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After I posted here, I tried it again and I managed to get about 30 files moved without Windows copying. I hope that meant that my changing the value was finally working.

Yes, I think you have fixed it by changing DragWidth and DragHeight from 4 to 20:

Fixing Annoyances: Stop Windows from Copying Files Accidentally When Ctrl-Click Selecting

But you may also want to try switching on “Use check boxes to select items” at Tools, Folder Options, View, Advanced Settings so that you don’t need to hold down Ctrl.

Bruce

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Yes, it worked. At first it seemed to be worse, then suddenly, well, I have all my files moved. No more copying while highlighting. Thanks everyone for your
help. The DragWidth and DragHeight worked.

I’ll try the other things of using check boxes to select files, also.

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Fixing Annoyances: Stop Windows from Copying Files Accidentally When Ctrl-Click Selecting

This only seems to apply to XP and Vista…. so is the registry edit the only solution in Win7?

Barbara

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This only seems to apply to XP and Vista…. so is the registry edit the only solution in Win7?

Yes: Is it possible to disable copying when Ctrl – Left Click (Applies To: Windows 7)

Bruce

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Yes, I think you have fixed it by changing DragWidth and DragHeight from 4 to 20:

Fixing Annoyances: Stop Windows from Copying Files Accidentally When Ctrl-Click Selecting

But you may also want to try switching on “Use check boxes to select items” at Tools, Folder Options, View, Advanced Settings so that you don’t need to hold down Ctrl.

Bruce

Thanks, that is so cool.:rolleyes:

The Check Boxes hint.

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Gramps,

Use the Control key to select discontiguous files to manipulate; use the Shift key to select contiguous files. AFTER the files are selected, use the mouse to drag them to the desired location. BEFORE you release the left mouse button, press and hold the Shift key to move the files, or the Control key to copy them.

Zig

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No other ideas then, sorry.

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Well the registry hack worked great after the first time I tried it. I also tried the check box thing and it just seems, hard to explain, a pain. Anything I would hover over would suddenly show a check box. So I went back in and unchecked it. If I start having trouble again I’ll re check. Thanks all.

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I also tried the check box thing and it just seems, hard to explain, a pain. Anything I would hover over would suddenly show a check box. So I went back in and unchecked it. If I start having trouble again I’ll re check. Thanks all.

It’s not “normal” for anything to be selected just by hovering over it. I think at some time you must have opted to “Single-click to open an item (point to select)”.

You can change this back to the default setting from Computer or Windows Explorer, at Tools, Folder Options, General; then, under Click items as follows, select “Double-click to open an item (single-click to select)”

I think this would probably explain your difficulty with drag and drop copying; it’s selecting the destination (current folder, not where you want) as soon as you move the pointer.

Bruce

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