Thank you!
Re: Renaming files: annoying automatic re-selection of entire filename in Windows 8
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Anonymous
So I think I've found a workaround that doesn't require a third party program. I simply can't reply to the original thread because it's closed, but I think my two cents may help some people since I'm having this problem on Windows 10 nearly seven years later.
It seems that, because I'm trying to rename something on dropbox, that there's a lag between me choosing to rename the file and dropbox recognizing that I'm trying to rename a file. At first, I would wait a few seconds, hit "Home" or the left arrow key, and then work on renaming the file hoping it doesn't happen again, which sometimes it does.
It seems though, that if I hit backspace (when the filename is still initially selected), ctrl+z (to undo deleting the file name), and then home (to get back to the beginning of the file name), I can use the arrow keys to move to the portion I need to rename unmolested, almost like it forces dropbox to recognize that a file is being renamed.
Windows for home | Windows 10 | Files, folders, and storage
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.
117 answers
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Anonymous
2023-07-17T10:55:34+00:00 -
Anonymous
2023-07-17T19:46:29+00:00 This was the only one that worked, I don't know who continues to use Windows Media Player but I don't, I use VLC and others, so I didn't miss anything and the annoying bug is now gone! Thank you!!
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Anonymous
2023-08-10T17:47:27+00:00 Just before the bug appeared I had configured Windows Search to index my entire volume D. After I see this solution, I take out my volume D from Windows search and the bug completely disappeared.
I tried the other proposed solutions, but this one was the only one that functioned.
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Anonymous
2023-08-10T19:58:28+00:00 This has bothered me for many years. This thread didn't solve it, but it did help me observe what was happening, at least in my case.
I notice this most often when I am renaming many files. Like I want to add the word "lecture" in front of 20 files.
What I observed is that in my OneDrive files,
- As soon as I change the name of File 1, it resyncs that file. That takes about 2 seconds.
- But after 1 second, I am already renaming the File 2.
- When File 1 completes the sync, Windows seems to reset the folder which means it selects the entire file name for me in File 2, while I am half-done editing. Annoying!
What I noticed is that if I wait 2 seconds for File 1 to complete its sync, and then select File 2, then Windows does not reset the folder while I am editing File 2 and the problem goes away.
Of course this is also annoying, to wait 2 seconds (or longer for large files) for the previous file to sync before starting the next, in what was supposed to be a fast repetitive task.
So what I did instead was close OneDrive. Then the syncs stay pending. I edit all file names, and then turn OneDrive back on to complete the syncs. That worked for me, or has so far. I have not tested other scenarios yet.
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Anonymous
2023-08-18T22:22:10+00:00 Dear Microsoft,
Please, please, please fix this! It has been annoying me for years. :-( Usually, it only auto-selects the whole name 1-2 times, but never more than 3, and then I can insert characters in the name or something similar as needed. Right now, after a recent update it never stops. It makes renaming files by changing a subset of characters (e.g., sequences like file001.txt, file002.txt, etc.) nearly impossible in the GUI. :-p
An unhappy customer,
Jeff Buxton