Drag and Drop confirmation prompt? Accidentally moving files.

Anonymous
2011-03-25T15:44:05+00:00

Ever since upgrading to Windows 7, we have had a problem with people inadvertently moving folders by dragging and dropping when meaning to double click.  Is there a way to turn on a confirmation prompt ("are you sure you want to...") when dragging and dropping files/folders?  It seems that previous versions of Windows had this prompt, but it has since been removed.  This is happening in our office on at least a weekly basis, sometimes daily, and we have to spend time searching for the moved folder.  If MS is unable to help, is there software that we can purchase to accomplish this?

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

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@CmdrKeene 90,631 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2011-03-25T16:29:55+00:00

Windows 7 made no changes: there has never been a confirmation prompt like you describe.

One workaround is to increase the distance you must move the pointer before it triggers a drag.  Under the following registry key, you'll see DragHeight and DragWidth, which define the number of pixels the mouse must move before the drag is initiated:

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT\USER\Control Panel\Desktop

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-03-09T05:45:14+00:00

    I also found recently that many of my files are in the wrong folders. Many of them had changed their hosting folders long ago (I know because I did not touch them for months) and I was not aware of it until recently. I whole folder was found in the recycle bin.

    Most destructive is the combination of several features and bugs: no resilience to user slips, directory auto-expand while pointing at the desired target folder, the automated change of the target point when the screen is refreshing, not providing feedback about the new file location, improper user-screen synchronization, disregarding the user's delay following screen changes to enable the user to change the target point before releasing the mouse.

    A clear indication of the actual location before and after the mouse release would help me become aware of slips and screen  changes in time. A delay between the location change may prevent many of instances of such errors.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-12-25T14:25:52+00:00

    I have a constant problem moving folders (and files to a lesser extent).  Some of the folders are extremely large, but move without my being aware of it.  I also have problems navigating the search to subsequently find the folders.  (It is difficult to get Windows 10 to dive deeply through a drive looking for missing files or folders).

    I would suggest that there are a couple of things that would make Windows Explorer more usable.

    1.  A preference/setting to provide the user with confirmations for copy/move folders.  Exciting option would be a further option to confirm any file over x MB.

    2.  The right-click option to copy to/move to any drive/folder on a local or mapped drive.

    3.  Come on, it is SO much easier to move /copy files when there are side-by-side windows.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-04-27T00:15:05+00:00

    The page looks a little janky, but the program works. It's a freaking life saver.

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