I am writing to report an apparent regression bug in a Windows Update patch:  Update for Windows 8.1 for x64-based Systems (KB2911106).  When this patch is installed, folders can no longer be renamed with Windows Explorer (although they can still be renamed in DOS).  When the patch is removed through System Restore, the problem with renaming folders disappears.  This is 100% reproducible as follows:

0.  Create a System Restore point!
1.  In Windows Update, download and install KB2911106.
2.  Create a new folder on the Desktop (or anywhere else).
3.  Try to rename the folder by right-clicking it and selecting "Rename."
4.  FAILS with "Can't find the specified file" error.
5.  However, folder can be renamed in DOS.
6.  Run System Restore to de-install KB2911106.
7.  Folder rename functionality returns.

Please convey this bug report.  Thank you.

• Edited by Jon_99_999_9999_99999 Wednesday, January 29, 2014 4:49 AM

Sry I am not getting that bug, sounds like you may have a corruption somewhere. This update has fixes for many things. Run.

Elevated Command

sfc /scannow

his update package fixes the issues that are documented in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) articles:

• 2870467 Memory leak in Oleaut32.dll on a Windows 7 SP1, Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Windows 8, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2-based COM server
• 2891804 Files or folders are removed unexpectedly when you perform a cut-and-paste operation on a Windows FTP client that is connected to an FTP site
• 2897602 FIX: TCP connections that use ephemeral loopback addresses are dropped suddenly in Windows
• 2910642 Video playback in Windows Media Player stutters or stops in Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1
• 2908931 Camera image orientation on viewfinder of display screens are rotated 90 degree on a Windows 8.1-based Portrait-First device
• 2911039 Scheduled task in Windows restarts unexpectedly after computer restarts
• 2912225 ADAC crashes when you try to use the global search in Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2
• 2913016 Error message when you try to print some XPS files by using XPS Viewer in Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2
• 2913218 English IME is set as the default IME instead of a localized IME after OOBE wizard in Windows RT 8.1, Windows 8.1, or Windows Server 2012 R2
• 2913312 Ctrl+Alt+Del keyboard shortcut is not displayed on the logon screen to tell the user how to reach the credential prompt in Windows RT 8.1, Windows 8.1, or Windows Server 2012 R2
• 2913317 Autocorrection feature does not remember user decisions in Windows 8.1
• 2913765 Certain cameras cannot be used as removable drives in Windows RT 8.1, Windows 8.1, or Windows Server 2012 R2
• 2914002 Update fixes several Windows Store app-related issues
• 2914011 Update resolves a Windows Store app issue and a printer issue
• 2914180 You cannot connect to FTP servers through a Wi-Fi hot spot
• 2914211 Internet Explorer tab freezes when it makes a COM call to a suspended tab
• 2914217 Duplicate files in a symbolic link folder after you upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1
• 2914219 USB storage device does not work correctly in Windows 8.1 and in Windows Server 2012 R2

Elevated Command

sfc /scannow

• Edited by colakid Wednesday, January 29, 2014 5:21 AM

I have discovered that if I remove the following Registry keys and reboot, the problem goes away:

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\
  {2112AB0A-C86A-4ffe-A368-0DE96E47012E}
  {491E922F-5643-4af4-A7EB-4E7A138D8174}
  {7b0db17d-9cd2-4a93-9733-46cc89022e7c}
  {A302545D-DEFF-464b-ABE8-61C8648D939B}
  {A990AE9F-A03B-4e80-94BC-9912D7504104}

Can anyone explain why this is or what these keys are supposed to do?

A few more notes:

1)I have to delete ALL FIVE of these keys or the problem remain. Leaving any one of them behind seems to trigger the problem.

2) When I subsequently applied the February monthly Windows Update patches, the problem came back again; these five keys had re-created themselves during the update. Deleting these five registry again makes the problem go away again.

3) Concurrent with the appearance (or re-appearance) of the cannot-rename-folders problem, a Libraries icon also appears on the Desktop.

• Edited by Jon_99_999_9999_99999 Sunday, February 16, 2014 3:16 PM

Wow, this is SO messed up.

I liked your suggestion, so I undid my registry fix, logged out and in, and confirmed that the folder-renaming problem came back (it did). Then I created a new user and tried to log in as that new user. I got the following error on the sign-in screen:

  -----------------------------------------------------------
    The User Profile Service service failed the sign-in.
    User profile cannot be loaded.

         [OK]
  -----------------------------------------------------------

I even tried activating the built-in Guest account and tried logging in as Guest, but I got the same "profile cannot be loaded" error (bad grammar and all).

So I can neither confirm whether the original problem occurs with a virgin profile nor can I ever (apparently) create a new profile on this OS. I see no reason that I'll ever have to to the latter, so I'm not going to worry about it -- other than that these symptoms I am having might be indicative of a deeper issue.

When will Windows 9 be out?

• Edited by Jon_99_999_9999_99999 Sunday, February 16, 2014 8:52 PM

Do you recall the little registry tweak that you got from askVG.com to disable the Libraries in win 7, that he said would likely also work in win 8? Well, the inability to rename folders is caused by applying it. If you recall, there was also an "undo" for it, called "restore default settings". Run that, and your problem with renaming folders will be solved.

• Proposed as answer by mel77084 Friday, April 11, 2014 12:15 AM

I had this problem. None of the proferred options resolved the issue for me.  Finally, by experimentation I managed to destroy my ability to launch explorer.

As a last ditch try to resolve the issue before reinstall, I went onto my netbook, which does not have the issue and exported the following registry keys to two different reg files.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions

I then issued a reg merge on the two files.  All problems were fixed instantly, without sign out.

Both keys threw error exceptions when trying to import them.  I had already started to take ownership of the keys before I noticed that the problem was already fixed.  So I did not try and import them again.

Hopefully this will help someone who has this issue.  Reinstalling is such a pain in the nuts....

[edit]  I'm running 8.1 Enterprise...

• Edited by NeilT-1 Monday, October 20, 2014 7:03 PM

Excellent. Worked instantly. Thanks.