Only Windows Explorer can rename JPG file

bbinnard · 09 Jul 2018

I copied a bunch of JPG files from my camera's SD card onto a hard drive so I can edit them. But my editor (FastStone) will not let me save an edited file. I discovered that, for example, only Windows Explorer can make changes to these JPG files. Here's a screenshot of a simple example using a rename operation

Only Windows Explorer can rename JPG file-1.jpg

To make the above screenshot I used Explorer to add -x to the end of one of the file names. That worked OK, But my normal file manager (Freecommander) won't let let me change the name back, or rename any other file. I also can't save an edited file, or copy/paste a file because I get the message "You need permission from...." when I try to do that.

My system is Win10/64 Home Ver. 1803 Build 17134,132 and I have done all the following things: disabled UAC, taken ownership, set permissions to allow everything, disabled Windows Defender. But something ( I wish I knew what) is still stopping me normal software from updating the JPG files.

What could it be?

bbinnard · 09 Jul 2018

Additional info: booting is Safe Mode makes the problem disappear. So it must be some device driver or other software that is causing the problem.

Bree · 09 Jul 2018

Your example was a file in your Pictures folder (albeit on E:, did you move your user folders to E:?). If you have Controlled Folder Access turned on in Defender then this may be denying access, Pictures is normally one of the folders it protects. If so, adding FastStone to the list of apps allowed access should solve the problem.

Add or Remove Allowed Apps for Controlled Folder Access in Windows 10 | Windows 10 Tutorials

bbinnard · 09 Jul 2018

Good grief! That was it. Thanks.

How is it I did not know about this "improvement"? Was it ever documented someplace?

Bree · 09 Jul 2018

bbinnard said:

Good grief! That was it. Thanks.

How is it I did not know about this "improvement"? Was it ever documented someplace?

Controlled Folder Access was new for the Fall Creators Update, 1709. You can be forgiven for not having heard of it before, it didn't feature in Microsoft's launch publicity: What’s new in the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update (possibly because at that time it was 'off' by default). With 1803 that seems to have changed to 'on' by default.

It was documented for IT professionals though.
Turn on the protected folders feature in Windows 10 | Microsoft Docs

bbinnard · 09 Jul 2018

I get it.

Don't you just hate it when MS behaves like Apple?