Problems with Rename and Move files function

[sgodlovitch]

I have had intermittent problems when trying to rename and/move files on TC. The program will occasionally hang requiring Windows to shut it down. I use Win7 on a 64 machine. The problem doesn't seem to arise with other file managers. The problem is frequent enough that I thought I might find out what the cause might be. Thank you for your assistance.
Stan Godlovitch

[Dalai]

How exactly do you rename? Keyboard? Mouse? Do you use the context menu?

Regards
Dalai

[sgodlovitch]

To rename, I highlight the filename with the mouse and then use the keyboard to erase the name and the keyboard to type in the new content. The extensions are usually unchanged.
The problem with lockup, though, also occurs from time to time (but often enough) when I simply want to move a file from one directory to another. There's no similar problem if I use Copy and then Delete.

[Dalai]

To rename, I highlight the filename with the mouse and [...]

And how do you get there? That's the important part and why I asked about the context menu.

Regards
Dalai

[sgodlovitch]

I'm not sure what 'context menu' refers to. If by that you mean the Function key bar at the base, for moving (not re-naming) files, I select the file and use F6. That has been a problem with hanging. For re-naming, I do not use the function keys at all. But I may have misunderstood your question.

[Dalai]

A context menu is - as the name suggests - based on the current context and is almost always called via a right mouse click (or Shift+F10). So, to enter the renaming mode, you can

• either use the context menu
• or use the keyboard, Shift+F6 by default
• or do a second (slow) left click

Some Shell Extensions are known to be problematic, especially for alternative file managers like TC (since their developers often only test with Explorer). They are automatically loaded when the context menu is called. So, the question is: Do you use the context menu to enter renaming mode? If so, you could have a problematic shell extension.

Regards
Dalai

[sgodlovitch]

I never use either the right-click context menu or shift-F6. To highlight the file for renaming, I select it and use the left-click mouse and then another mouse click to make the file name accessible to editing.
This may be very inefficient. The trouble is I've done it this way for a long time and have only just recently been having the hanging problems I've mentioned. Again, those problems are intermittent. I may try, say, to move a batch of files selected from one directory to the next and find that 3 out of 6 files will be moved, but the program hangs on the 4th, say. When I try crtl-alt-del, TC is indicated as still running even though it o longer responds to any keyboard or mouse activity.

[Dalai]

OK, then it's unlikely that shell extensions are the culprit.

When you move files, do you move them within the same partition/drive or from one partition/drive to another? The former only changes the FAT/MFT while the latter actually copies the files and then deletes them, which could be "blocked"/influenced by anti-virus software. What anti-virus software do you use? What happens when you temporarily disable your scanner while moving/renaming the files? Does the problem go away?

Regards
Dalai

[sgodlovitch]

Thank you again, Dalai.
I move/rename files within the same drive.
I use Avast and SuperAntiSpyware anti-virus programs. I've used them for quite awhile. I seldom have the scanner on, so it's unlikely that that's an issue.
For what it's worth, I'm getting neither renaming nor moving problems with either Q-Dir or MultiCommander.

[sgodlovitch]

I use some other anti-virus cleanup programs as well. These do not run in the background. The usual ones are ccleaner, jetclean, spybot, wisecare 365 and 360 Total Security. Is it possible that one or other of these might be interfering with TC?
Stan

[Dalai]

I use Avast and SuperAntiSpyware anti-virus programs. I've used them for quite awhile. I seldom have the scanner on, so it's unlikely that that's an issue.

How do you do that? Do you disable Avast every time you booted the system? Which Avast modules do you have installed? Last weekend I had a very long remote session with a customer because he couldn't launch a game at all. We eventually found out that the Avast Behavior shield was interfering with the process. Avast's global exception list apparently didn't apply to the Behavior shield (still don't know why), so I had to add the program to the shield's/module's exception list.

Are you sure all scanner modules are disabled?

These do not run in the background. [...] Is it possible that one or other of these might be interfering with TC?

I don't think so. On the other hand: Don't you think that this number of programs (I count six plus anti-virus software) is a bit overkill? And, are you sure that these programs don't run in the background and/or change (important) system settings and/or interfere with other processes running on your system?

Regards
Dalai

[sgodlovitch]

How do you do that? Do you disable Avast every time you booted the system? Which Avast modules do you have installed?[/quote]

No, Avast isn't disabled. It fairly frequently warns of suspicious PUP software at boot-up. I probably should switch that module off.
I'm not sure about the scanner. It runs on a HP 6700 printer. That boots up the printer LAN when the printer is switched on. The printer is often switched off. I'll have to check this more thoroughly
I suspect I use too many clean-up programs. That's been a reaction to some problems I had with a virus awhile back which did some damage.
I will try to disable a number of things and see what effect this has on that feature of TC which has been a problem.

You'll have to excuse me for now. I've an appointment to attend to and won't be able to respond to your messages. I much appreciate the attention you're giving this matter. I'm a long-standing TC user and have found it, until recently, utterly reliable.
I will be in touch later on - also when I've had a chance to try things out once I disable a few programs.
Stan

[Dalai]

No, Avast isn't disabled.

Well, then I misunderstood that since it wasn't stated clearly.

It fairly frequently warns of suspicious PUP software at boot-up. I probably should switch that module off.

Um, no, you should do something about the PUP, if it indeed is unwanted. If you know (and trust) the software it warns about, you can add it to Avast's exclusion list.

I'm not sure about the scanner. It runs on a HP 6700 printer. That boots up the printer LAN when the printer is switched on. The printer is often switched off. I'll have to check this more thoroughly

I'm sorry, but what has a printer (or all-in-one device) have to to with all this? I guess, you mean that you need some software to use the printer. However, that doesn't explain what this device has to do with the problem...

I will try to disable a number of things and see what effect this has on that feature of TC which has been a problem.

Good idea.

Regards
Dalai

[HolgerK]

OK, then it's unlikely that shell extensions are the culprit.

Not really.
A simple mouse hover and displaying a tooltip can also trigger loading of ShellExtension which may access files and lock them in case of errors.

2sgodlovitch

- Is this problem related to files of a special type (e.g. jpg-files)?

- Does the problem also occur if you ensure that the following option is unchecked?

Configuration -> Option... -> Display -> Help texts:
[_] Comments from Explorer
(InfoTip shell extension)

Other options related to shell extension:

Configuration -> Option... -> Icons:
(_) All associated
(Icon handler shell extension)
[_] Show overlay icons, e.g. for links
(Icon Overlay handler shell extension)

Configuration -> Option... -> Thumbnails:
[_] Use Explorer method(OLE2) for:..
(Thumbnail Image handler shell extension)

Showing the property page of a file (<Alt+Enter>) can load Property sheet handler shell extensions.

Regards
Holger

[Dalai]

Not really.
A simple mouse hover and displaying a tooltip can also trigger loading of ShellExtension which may access files and lock them in case of errors.

You are right - again. I always forget about the other shell extension stuff like overlay icons, comments etc.

Regards
Dalai