Renaming files is not possible anymore in Explorer windows - WIN10

[tarsonis123]

Before reporting your issue

• I have confirmed that this issue does not happen when ExplorerPatcher is not installed
• I do not have "register as shell extension" enabled
• I have tried my best to check existing issues

Repro ExplorerPatcher versions

Ex plorerPatcher
Version 26100.4946.69.6

Repro Windows Versions

Windows 10 Pro
22H2
25/04/2021
19045.6691

3rd party tweak software installed

None

Describe the bug

Since 2-3 weeks this issues appeared. Actually since I installed Explorer Patcher. I can not reaname files/folders anymore via F2 shortcut or context menu. Nothing happens when pressing F2. The only way then is to go to properties of the file and rename it there. Something triggers this issue as it is not present after a reboot.
When it happens and I deinstall Explorer Patcher renaming is working again without a restart needed. Sometimes it also helps to restart explorer.exe but not always. I hope this isse can be fixed otherwise would be sad to not be able to use ExplorerPatcher anymore.

There are not a lot or fancy settings I'm using. I attached my exported settings.

ExplorerPatcher_26100.4946.69.6.txt

Expected outcome

I want to rename files

Actual outcome

I can not rename files...

Additional info

No response

Crash Dumps

No response

Media

No response

[pyrates999]

you said this happens when EP is not installed? And when that happens, restarting explorer.exe fixes it?

[tarsonis123]

Hi, no. The issue is only happning when EP is installed and active. What may lead to the misunderstanding, is that when the issue appears, I then DE-install / remove Explorer patcher, I then can rename again without restarting the OS or restarting explorer.exe

[pyrates999]

Just so you know, explorer.exe is restarted when you install/uninstall EP.

When you encounter the error of being unable to rename a file/folder, please post a screen shot of the error message. Blur out any personal details.

So lets try the following after you've installed EP again. When you find you can't rename a file/folder:

1. Open up EP Properties application
2. Click on restart file explorer
3. Open up file explorer, and see if you can rename that same file/folder.

If you still can't rename that file/folder:

1. Open up task manager
2. Click on the details tab
3. Click on more details at the bottom left of the window if you do not see the details tab
4. For all instances of explorer.exe, right click on it and select end task
5. Then while still in task manager, go to file menu and select Run new task
6. Input explorer.exe and click on OK
7. Open up file explorer, and see if you can rename that same file/folder.

[tarsonis123]

Ah, ok. I did that after the issue appeared.

1. Issue appeared.
2. Removed EP.
3. Issue disappeared.

But what also works:

1. Issue appeared.
2. Restart explorere.exe
3. Issue disappears for some time but reappears again in that session

What you are describing is essentially what I did prior of this ticket. This is quick fix but since I have to rename files quite often not a solution for me.

The only thing I made differently is to go to task manager and restartet explorer.exe and not went that route:
Open up EP Properties application
Click on restart file explorer
Open up file explorer, and see if you can rename that same file/folder.

I guess it makes no difference from "where" I restart the explorer.exe

[pyrates999]

Then you have your work around for now. Please use it until a developer responds to this.

[tarsonis123]

Well, the only workaround is to remove EP which is one to me. Restarting explorer isn't a workaround as this issue is happening to frequently in a session. I hope the culprit can be found. Lets see

[pyrates999]

How often does it happen? And what error message do you get?

Are you using a third party antivirus? If so, what one is it?

[tarsonis123]

I'm not getting any error message. Around 3-4 times in 8 hour working day I guess when I restart the explorer.exe. When I remove EP and reinstall it, it happens less frequently

[pyrates999]

Are you using a third party antivirus? If so, what one is it?

[tarsonis123]

No third party antivirus.

[pyrates999]

Ok, please wait for a developer to respond.

[pyrates999]

One thing you can try. You can check using the console in explorer patcher. Open up the properties application for explorer patcher, go to advanced, and click on enable console. Keep that enabled.

When you can't rename a file/folder, copy and paste the output from that to here.

[tarsonis123]

Yeah, Murphys Law.... I had the console aktive and the issue did not appear. Now it is back again and I had the console off. Manually opening to do some work is not my primary goal.

Now, that got even worse because. restarting explorer.exe doesn't resolve the issue anymore. Like often updates makes things worse or just different, than better.

This is what the window is showing:

Running on Windows 10, OS Build 10.0.19045.6691.
Loaded symbols
Setup user32 functions done
ITrayUIHost = 435848
explorer.exe!TrayUI_CreateInstance() = 878DC
Setup explorer functions done
Setup uxtheme functions done
Setup twinui.pcshell functions done
Setup combase functions done
Setup twinui functions done
Setup stobject functions done
Setup bthprops functions done
Setup pnidui functions done
Setup sndvolsso functions done
Setup shell32 functions done
Setup windows.storage functions done
Setup peopleband functions done
Installed hooks.
Open Start on monitor thread
EP Service Window thread
Started "Open Start on current monitor" thread.
Initialized taskbar centering module.
Progman: 328082
Progman hook: 5178141
[sws] Wallpaper RECT 0 0 3440 1440
[sws] Refreshing theme: 0
[sws] Refreshing theme: 0
0 0
[Updates] Starting daemon.
[Updates] Configured update policy on this system: "Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them".
[Updates] Path to module: C:\windows\dxgi.dll
[Updates] Using hardcoded hash.
[Updates] Checking against hash "26100.4946.69.6.4c0cd564d448ea65"
[Updates] Update URL: https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/releases/latest/download/ep_setup.exe
[Updates] Hash of remote file is "26100.4946.69.6.4c0cd564d448ea65" (valid).
[Updates] Local version obtained from hash is 26100.4946.69.6.
[Updates] No updates are available.
10000 46000000
0 46000000

[pyrates999]

Ok, keep the EP console open. When you can't rename a directory or file, copy and paste the results here.