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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?
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
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
There has in fact been a change made compared with WinXP.
In WinXP explorer's folder explorer one had to drag the actual name-area of the folder in order to catch it and be able to drop it else where.
In Win7, it's sufficient to start the drag on the same horizontal (imaginary) bar where the folder is listed. This means that in Win7 you can drag'n'drop a folder, without even ever having the mouse pointer directly pointing on its name. The drag'n'drop may easily go unnoticed.
This issue was a problem in WinXP. In Win7 it got worse.
I totally agree with oded_904 and the original question from Carolyn! There should be a "PROMPT" when dragging and dropping entire network folders because users don't even realize they are doing it.
I tried the DragHeight and DragWidth settings and it causes issues with other Drag/Drop funtions outside Explorer. This is not a solution!
Adding my vote that this needs fixing. This is a big issue for less experienced users, but even very experienced users such as myself occasionally will accidentally drop a file/folder being dragged into an unintended folder. It's so easy to happen, just takes a momentary loss of contact with a trackpad, or let up on pressure on the mouse while moving it. Also a big accessibility issue for some people who can't reliably do the rather intricate physical motions involved: click, drag, drop, while monitoring small icons on the screen.
I would prefer to have an option that doesn't allow moving an icon (file/folder) into a folder icon at all. Instead, to move a file you would need to open a second window and navigate into that folder, then drag between the windows.
Failing that, a confirmation dialog should appear whenever moving an icon into a folder icon. I prefer to NOT get this dialog if just dragging between windows.
If this is happening with double left clicking to open,
You might try changing how your mouse opens folders and or files,
Click on organize on the top left in windows explorer, on the general tab section,
Check the box to use single click to open and point to select,
Only right click dragging will offer a option for actions, including cancel.
You might also check your double click speed, and slow it down in your mouse settings.
