Windows Explorer – problems creating new folders

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Back again with a new Windows Explorer problem. When I try to create a new folder or a sub-folder, WE hangs up. I follow the usual procedure that I have always followed: 1) click on an existing folder and then –> Folder. WE then creates a new folder called “New Folder”. When I go to rename this folder, WE hangs up with just the “hour glass” symbol showing. I then have to shut it down and start over again. When I restart WE, the “New Folder” still exists. I then have to rename it again. Sometimes the second try works and sometimes it doesn’t. When it doesn’t, I restart WE and begin the renaming process again. To date, I have never had to try the renaming process more than twice to get it to work.

I have tried running WE as the only visible running app, or with other programs such as Firefox and OneNote running and there is no difference. I have run CCleaner and cleaned up everything and this makes no difference as well. I am at a loss to explain what is happening, or not happening, as the case may be.

I am running Windows 10 Pro, CPU is an Intel I7-58230K @ 3.3GHz, 16.0 GB RAM, and an NVIDIA GTX Gforce 750 Graphics Board. My entire set of folders occupies less than 25% of a 2 TB hard drive, so hard drive space is not an issue. I am not sure exactly when this problem started, maybe 2 to 3 months ago, so it is hard to tie it to the installation of any particular piece of software.

Any insight that anyone would care to offer will be greatly appreciated.

Ron M

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Does the same mess happen when using a usb or dvd booted Puppy Linux’s file manager?

"Take care of thy backups and thy restores shall take care of thee." Ben Franklin, revisted

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Does the same mess happen when using a usb or dvd booted Puppy Linux’s file manager?

“Puppy Linux’s file manager” – I am afraid I have absolutely no idea what you are referring to. I am running Windows and not Linux, so your question has me puzzled.

Ron M

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Does the same mess happen when using a usb or dvd booted Puppy Linux’s file manager?

It does work on a USB 3 drive under Windows Explorer. Now I am really, really puzzled. :confused: :confused:

Ron M

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If you haven’t already, run a scan for malware and viruses. Download FixWin for W10 from the Windows Club. It contains lots of fixes and troubleshooters for W10 which you may find useful. It doesn’t require installing, so unzip and run it and select Welcome (if its not already selected) and start by running the System File Checker Utility.

http://www.thewindowsclub.com/fixwin-for-windows-10

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If you haven’t already, run a scan for malware and viruses. Download FixWin for W10 from the Windows Club. It contains lots of fixes and troubleshooters for W10 which you may find useful. It doesn’t require installing, so unzip and run it and select Welcome (if its not already selected) and start by running the System File Checker Utility.

http://www.thewindowsclub.com/fixwin-for-windows-10

Ran a complete scan for viruses, etc. and nothing was found. I ran the FixWin utility, System File Checker, and nothing was found. The problem still exists.

I thought that maybe if I just left the “New Folder” name in place and then renamed it later that the problem would go away. This didn’t work either. So, I guess my question is still – How do I fix this?

Ron M

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In Documents have you tried right clicking in a blank area rather than on an existing folder then New/Folder ?

That’s the way I’ve always done it when I’ve needed to create a new folder.

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In Documents have you tried right clicking in a blank area rather than on an existing folder then New/Folder ?

That’s the way I’ve always done it when I’ve needed to create a new folder.

This worked the first time I tried it, but not the second time – go figure. Has me puzzled. :confused:

Ron M

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This worked the first time I tried it, but not the second time – go figure. Has me puzzled. :confused:

Ron M

And me…

Boot up into Safe Mode and then Restart – that can sometimes fix anomalous problems.

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And me…

Boot up into Safe Mode and then Restart – that can sometimes fix anomalous problems.

If I understand this: 1. Shut down current system. 2. Boot up in Safe Mode (have to check on how to do this) 3. Shut down. 4. Re-boot in “regular” mode. Is this the process you are suggesting? I ask for the details as I have so few problems that these alternate approaches are lost in my memory.

Ron M

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The easiest way is to go Start – type msconfig and press enter then under the Boot tab check the box for Safe boot – Apply – OK – Restart but to reboot back to normal mode, while in Safe Mode you will have to go back into msconfig and uncheck the box for Safe boot.

If in Safe Mode when you type msconfig, System doesn’t come up, right click on the Start button and select Command Prompt (Admin) and enter bcdedit

Under Windows Boot Loader check to see what it gives as your Identifier – it could be {default} or {current}

Then enter bcdedit /deletevalue {your Identifier} safeboot

exit

Then Restart.

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As we have eliminated the OS itself and malware, I suspect that the problem is with a third party program running in the background that’s either out of date or corrupt. For the sake of completeness, start with a check for a graphics driver update.
Note that in W10, you cant get to Safe Mode using msconfig. Its become rather more complicated as Safe Mode is no longer listed there. Also Selective startup only works if you first select the items to be started in Task Manager>Start Up. It then it sets itself.
To start in Safe Mode:-
Press Windows logo key + I on your keyboard to open Settings. If that doesn’t work, select the Start button in the lower-left corner of your screen, then select Settings.
Select Update & security > Recovery.
Under Advanced startup, select Restart now.
After your PC restarts to the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
After your PC restarts, you’ll see a list of options. Select 4 or F4 to start your PC in Safe Mode. Or if you’ll need to use the Internet, select 5 or F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.

Its easier to use Autoruns, which is a more comprehensive program than Task Manager and is provided by MS.

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx

This is another utility that doesn’t need to be installed, just click on the downloaded file to open. Click on the Options tab and Hide Microsoft Entries. Go to the Everything tab. Look for entries highlighted in yellow and marked Not Found. These are orphans left over from old programs etc and can cause problems as Windows tries to run them. These should be selected by right clicking on them and then deleted. Restart. It may solve the problem, but if not, go to the Logon tab and untick everything. Most of them you don’t need to run on start up anyway, they just slow down the process, and the ones you do need are quite obvious, sound, graphics, AV etc. Reboot and check the problem again. If its sorted, restart each item in turn until you find the culprit.

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Note that in W10, you cant get to Safe Mode using msconfig. Its become rather more complicated as Safe Mode is no longer listed there.

True, it’s no longer called Safe Mode. Instead, put a tick in the Safe boot checkbox and leave it on Minimal. Apply then OK… :

46707-safe_mode_W10
Click to enlarge

Hope this helps…

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Calimanco, I followed your advice and updated the graphics driver. I then Restarted the computer and my first attempt to create a new folder under an existing one worked without a hitch. However, my second attempt reverted to the old situation of hanging up WE to the extent that I had to shut it down and start over. When I restarted WE, I went back and checked and there was a folder called New Folder, so I know that at least a new folder was created. When I attempted to rename this folder, WE hung up again. I shut down WE and on my second try at renaming the “New Folder”, it was renamed without any problem, The plot thickens as they say in mystery writing. Still at a loss to explain what is going on. I guess the Safe Mode start is next :o: .

WesternGuy

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Ron: Just for hoots, have you tried opening a command window and using the MKDIR command to create the folder?

Rob

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Using the instructions I’ve posted in my Post #11 will get you into Safe Mode.

Perhaps there’s something wrong with Calimanco’s install if he is unable to do so.

Prior to writing those instructions, I had booted into Safe Mode by that method.

However, I also have my boot menu policy set to legacy so that I can tap F2, F8 or F12 as I switch on for their functions, with F8 getting me into the advanced boot options.

You can do this by right clicking on the Start button and select Command Prompt (Admin) – accept the UAC then enter –

bcdedit /set {your Identifier} bootmenupolicy legacy

exit

Then shutdown and restart to test.

Refer to my Post #11 in how to check which is your Identifier.

To revert, use standard instead of legacy in the command.

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Note that in W10, you cant get to Safe Mode using msconfig. Its become rather more complicated as Safe Mode is no longer listed there.

Calimanco, it’s there. It’s under the boot tab listed as Safe Boot.

Jerry

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Ron

A problem was introduced with the 1607 update which causes creating and renaming folders on network file shares to fail or take a long time. I realize this is not your problem, however one of the work-a-rounds was to turn off search indexing. This might be something to try. Supposedly this is fixed in the (delayed) February update.

Mark

Win 11 home - 24H2
Attitude is a choice...Choose wisely

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Ron

A problem was introduced with the 1607 update which causes creating and renaming folders on network file shares to fail or take a long time. I realize this is not your problem, however one of the work-a-rounds was to turn off search indexing. This might be something to try. Supposedly this is fixed in the (delayed) February update.

Mark

Mark, thanks for the info. How would I do that (turning off search indexing) to see if this is the case? If it isn’t the problem, then I will also need to turn it back on.

Ron M

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Type services into the search window. open services desktop app, scroll down to and open windows search. The startup type should be automatic (delayed start). Change this to disabled, stop the service, apply, and test to see if this helps. Change the startup type back to automatic (delayed start) to revert back.

Mark

Win 11 home - 24H2
Attitude is a choice...Choose wisely

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Ron M, after you solve the current computer problem, I recommend you look at a couple of tutorials on making usb and/or dvd Puppy Linux boots. Sometimes, when a computer is booted via usb or dvd into Puppy Linux —
— the PL’s folder and file manager can be used to fix certain problems not fixable from within Windows
— certain utilities can be run, totally bypassing Windows restrictions
— certain AV and AM programs and scans can be independently run

"Take care of thy backups and thy restores shall take care of thee." Ben Franklin, revisted

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I’ll second the idea of using a bootable Linux disc as a diagnostic, mine is Linux Mint 17.3 or 18 but there’s a number of others that will work. The nice thing is the file management application in it can access data on Windows PCs, haven’t found one yet that couldn’t be accessed as long as the HDD/Hard Disk Drive was still usable, works fine with NTFS formatting. I had to do it last week to save important files before doing a factory reset.

Before you wonder "Am I doing things right," ask "Am I doing the right things?"

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Well guys, I am not sure what has happened, but the issue seems to be resolved. In the last couple of days, I have not had any problems, creating new folders or renaming old ones. My thanks to all who contributed ideas, but if I knew why it seems to be resolved, I would share it with everyone, but I don’t, so I can’t.

Ron M

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