Changing file names

A few months back I had my PC de bugged.

Since then, I dont seem to be able to change the titles of files in "My Pictures" without getting a message saying" this may make the file unusable".

When I have gone ahead and changed the name the thumbnail changes to an icon and I cant get it back again, I then have to go through a lengthy process in order to view that file.

I'm pretty sure it must be something to do with settings, but I cant work out where or when.

Any ideas?

 

I haven't met this problem. I can only suggest that when you change filenames you make sure that it retains the same suffix (.jpg, .doc, .html etc.). Changing the suffix will cause serious problems because when a file is read, about the first four or five characters in the file determine what the file is and what can read it. If the suffix and those characters do not agree it will be unreadable.

My first experience of this kind of problem was with a Sinclair QL Archive database where the database must be closed before exiting. If it wasn't then one character would be wrong and you could not open the database again. We found that we could use a file editor to change that character and then everything was fine. The trouble is that I don't know of any file editors for the Windows system apart from some software which I have a lifetime subscription for and which comes from the Netherlands.

 

If you right click on one of your pic files and click on properties it will tell you what file type it is.(ie JPG). When you rename a file, put a full stop at the end of the name followed by the 3 letter file type. You're getting a standard warning because you are changing the file type by not specifying it.

 

I use Ubuntu/Linux OS and that has the advantage that it does not include suffixes in the rename procedure, so the suffix remains the same. If you want to change the file to another format you have to load it into an application and then save it out as the new format.

 

What version of Windows are you using Pete? I've encountered no problems renaming using XP.

 

Thanks everyone, some of it I understand, but some of it is over my head I'm afraid.

The thing is when I had my PC bebugged I was told they had to, for some reason, uninstall windows and reinstall it, (BTW Dave its XP).

In the past I have always right clicked on the thumnail, selected "rename" and gone a head and done so, no problems.
Now I get this message saying "If you change a file name you might make it unusable", I can add to the existing name but not remove it and add a new name.

Maybe thats what one of you is saying, but its all a bit confusing at the moment.

 

All sorted now thanks to Woo.

I'm sure the rest of you were on the right track but it was due to a box not being ticked in the folder options section.

Thanks again everyone.

 

Uninstall/reinstall sounds like they didn't de-bug it, just allowed Windows to format the HDD. Do you still have your previous files on there?

I suggest that you ignore the silly Windows pop-up after copying the file with an addition to the name, just to see if it is unusable.

 

Larkshall,
My previous files were all intact when I got it back, he said he had a problem as the number on the tower did not match the registered number on my computer for my version of windows.

Any way the problem, was due to the fact that under, folder options, view, the box marked "hide extensions for known files" was not checked,.. I checked it and its now back to normal.

 

:gnthb::gnthb:
That's great news Pete.It had to be something simple. It's knowing what that's the problem!
Glad you've got things back up and running:thumb: