Cannot Change Filename (Source and Destination filenames are the same)

[IMAyNeed]

Let's say " 01 - come.aaa" (A space at the beginning) is the file name.
I am trying to change it to "01 - come.aaa"(without the space at the beginning).
I am coming up with this error: "Source and destination file names are the same".

1) Is this fixable? How?

2) How can I find all files on my computer (and external drives) with a space at the beginning in the filename (and of course how can I change them with this error coming up)?

3) Is it a problem to have a space at the beginning in the filename (These files will be used in Mac and Linux too) ?

Thanks.

 

[Britton30]

A work around might be to:
1.copy the file to another location and rename it there.
2.Move the file renamed to the original location and delete the original.
3. OR rename it something similar but different. Such as your generic example, change it to, say "01-come.aaa"...no spaces.
I have no answer to find files with a space in the beginning of the name. curious, where do those come from?

 

[Bill2]

AFAIK, win7 doesnt allow creating files and folders with leading spaces in their names. So how did you create these files or are they imported from another OS?

Generally speaking, spaces in filenames are a bad idea. They are troublesome to use in the command line and in scripts. Certain file- and image- hosting websites remove or replace spaces. Certain tools dont work with spaces in filenames. And filenames get unnecessary longer.

 

[Britton30]

Confused me too Bill2

 

[IMAyNeed]

They have been created by Microsoft SyncToy after a syncronization. (Unless the filenames have been changed before because of some security issue as mentioned in the other thread).
I wish I could take that syncronization back (undo) because right now I don't know all the files and folders affected).

 

[IMAyNeed]

I was able to change the files with a program called Better File Rename.
Back to my question, why wasn't I able to do this from Windows Explorer?

 

[Bill2]

Windows explorer sees a filename with leading spaces SAME as a filename without leading spaces. Try creating a test file/folder with a leading space, the spaces are automatically removed.

 

[IMAyNeed]

Thanks for your reply.
Yes, I know that; that is why I was surprised to have double file names in Windows Explorer.

 

[Britton30]

Explorer also will see files named AbCdE and aBcDe as being the same.
If the SynchToy is creating files with leading space file names quit using it and try another.

 

[MacGyvr]

SyncToy didn't do it...I've used it for years without a hint of any behavior like that.

 

[IMAyNeed]

I don't believe SyncToy did it either.
Somehow, source folder in SyncToy had a space in the filenames before the syncronization (which I didn't notice before syncronization, how could I? As I know Windows OS doesn't let having space in the beginning ofa filename as I know), and the target folder had double files after Syncronization.
Just surprising thing is that how did Windows Operating System did allow filenames to have a space at the beginning?
Somehow it happened.
As someone told me in the other thread, I believe this happened after changing security settings on a folder even though I have never changed the security settings of a hidden/system folder.
Thanks for your replies.

 

[fimble]

I add a "Alt+160" to the beginning of files / folders I want to appear at the top of a folder when opened. Never had a problem. Must be just lucky. I remove if going to move elsewhere (off PC). If I've got loads to change it's not a problem with the aforementioned Better File Rename. A brilliant little program.