Can't create anymore New Folders in Windows 7

Anonymous
2010-06-17T22:15:48+00:00

Well this problem only began today after installing and uninstalling some free Antivirus software that I was trying out for the first time. Before that, I was about to install a new burning program and I decided to create a manual restore point first, in case anything went wrong. After installing Microsoft Security Essentials, I'm not too sure if that caused the problem but that's when I noticed that I couldn't create anymore new folders when I click the New Folder button in Explorer or when I right-click and select New, there would be no New Folder option. I have a hunch that this could most likely be some sort of registry problem but I've got practically no idea how to manually re-enable this in the registry. There was a few solutions lying around that showed some tips on editing the Context Menu but everytime I tried to edit the registry, I get an error saying that the changes could not be saved. I even download the ShellEX utility but it reported the New Folder option as enabled when it clearly wasn't or just wasn't functioning as it should. I'm going to try using System Restore to reload the manual restore point I had created, which I was when I was pretty sure that everythng was working just fine. Hopefully this would solve my little problem, because there's no more critical updates for me to install that just might resolve the issue. I'm hoping though that anyone who has an alternative solution from what I'm about to do can provide the specifics by replying to this. Your help would be very much appreciated.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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Anonymous
2010-06-18T16:41:35+00:00

Hi Sop_the_Otaku,

-      Where exactly are you trying to create a new folder? Is it somewhere in the C drive or on the desktop?

However, you may follow the steps below and let us know the result.

Step 1

Try to use command prompt and try to create a new folder and check if you can create one.

To do this, follow the steps below:

1.    Click on Start.

2.    In the start search box type CMD and press enter.

3.    Type cd.. and press enter, repeat cd.. and press enter until you get c:

4.  Now, type the following in the command prompt:mkdir folderName

Here, folderName will be the desired folder name

5.    Check if the folder is created in C drive

Step 2

Access the link below and follow the steps suggested by Linda YanonMonday, May 24, 2010 8:38 AM and check if it helps you fix the issue.

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7itprogeneral/thread/97de8a2a-12f2-4381-a409-a78f4ae551cf

Step 3

If the above steps fail perform a system restore on your computer and check if it helps you create a new folder

To restore the operating system to an earlier point in time, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, type system restore in the Start Search box, and then click System Restore in the Programs list.

If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type your password or click Continue.

  1. In the System Restore dialog box, click Choose a different restore point, and then click on Next.
  2. In the list of restore points, click a restore point that was created before you began to experience the issue, and then click on Next.
  3. Click Finish.

The computer restarts, and the system files and settings are returned to the state that they were in at the time that the restore point was created.

Access the link below to know about system restore:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/What-is-System-Restore

Hope this helps. Let us know the results.

Thanks and Regards,


Srinivas R

Microsoft Support.

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-12-20T21:26:48+00:00

    I've had the same condition happen to me, instead of being able to create the desired "FOLDER" the window gave as one option of creating a "briefcase" which prior to event, this was not available.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-12-20T21:38:41+00:00

    I've had the same condition happen to me, instead of being able to create the desired "FOLDER" the window gave as one option of creating a "briefcase" which prior to event, this was not available. 

    So did you fix it? There are many answers here.

    Do, or did you have Chrome installed? It appears a Chrome update, (circa mid April, 2013), is responsible for the loss of the New Folder option. Even if Chrome was not installed, here are two fixes.

    How to Remove and Restore the Default "New" Context Menu Items in Windows 7 and Windows 8

    http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/28677-new-context-menu-remove-restore-default-menu-items.html

    If for some reason the zip file does not work for you, see the "Answer" by Linda Yan in this thread.

    http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itprogeneral/thread/97de8a2a-12f2-4381-a409-a78f4ae551cf/#99395761-56de-4a76-8c2a-eab498ad735a

    Tip: When you save the text to Notepad, the default file format is .txt. Change it to All Files.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-12-26T21:43:07+00:00

    This is what worked for me:

    I used all of the free malware removal tools

    First - ran  C Cleaner

    Second - ran AVG 2014

    Third - ran SuperAntispyware

    Fourth - ran MalwareBytes

    Fifth - ran Auslogics disc deframentor

    Then ran them all again (except disc defrag) in the "Safe Mode with networking".  I read that starting the computer in safe mode does not allow the viruses to "activate" and block the removal tools.  It gets them while they are "sleeping"

    Next did an "error checking" - (Computer-Properties-Error Check)

    Restarted the computer and it was able to make a new folder.  This was my son's computer  and he plays a lot of online games.  The SuperAntispyware and Malware Bytes removed the most in the Safe Mode with networking.  In Safe mode, 5 Trojans and 100 other items were removed.  Also, there were many programs that were loaded and SuperAntispyware will remove them.  They were not detected while the computer was running normal.

    It took time, but it worked.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-01-11T01:22:25+00:00

    Thank you, frankzappa99a!!  This fixed my folder issue right away.  :-)

    Amy

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