Since the start of the week I can't rename folders anymore. I can create and delete files and folders, and rename files, but renaming folders result in a "unspecified error". This happens regardless if the folder already existed or was recently created, and in both C: (my SSD) and E: (my HDD) drives.

The console command ren still works, but renaming through any Explorer interface (Explorer window, Desktop, Open File dialog,...) fails in the same way.

It's not any antivirus (the only one I'm using is Windows Defender) and the problem persists with all user programs and their associated services stopped. I'm fairly sure I don't have any viruses either.

This is genuine, clean Windows 10 install. I found other people with similar problems, but all of them were drive-specific, which this is not.

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4 Answers

Edit: A few days later and the problem is back. I'm un-accepting this answer, but it may hold some solution.

I think I figured it out. This has fixed the error for me.

Cause

A special folder (e.g. Desktop, Images, Downloads, Videos, etc) has an invalid path as location (because the drive has been renamed or is missing).

Symptoms

• The This PC shortcuts in Explorer contains items that when clicked trigger an error (as expected).
• Changing the location of the bugged items results in a new item, and the bugged one remains (unexpected).
• Renaming folders in Explorer results in 0x80004005 Unspecified Error (very unexpected).

Fix

1. Open regedit, perform a search for the path of the bugged item, and manually replace the value.
2. Restart the computer or kill and restart explorer.exe.

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After upgrading to Windows 10, I am getting this and other disk errors all the time. Ghost folders, duplicate folders (with the same name but different contents), Files and Folders I can not rename or delete.

My solution is I have a global folder called corrupted and I am able to MOVE all of these to the corrupted folder. Incidentally chkdisk does nothing. I am waiting for some tool to appear in the future to sort it out.

I also notice that some of these are not actually files/folders or shortcuts but unix style links.

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I have found a fix that works for me.

CHKDSK

I found that CHKDSK from from Drive Management does not work too well. It is best to go to command line and type in

chkdsk C: /f

It must have /f for fix. This worked on one of my pcs.

DOS 8.3

After a lot of trial and error, this worked on the rest of my pcs.

1. Open command prompt on the parent folder

2. Type in dir /x

3. This will list 8.3 file names

4. Select one filename at a time and delete it (most of mine went at this step)

   del CORRUP~1

5. If this does not work then reset attribs on both the files and possible links

   attrib -r -h -s .

   attrib -r -h -s . /l

6. Try deleting again (most of the remainder went at this stage)

7. Go back to explorer and delete them (all of mine disappeared at this stage).

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What causes 80004005 error?

The 80004005 error may be caused by windows system files damage. The corrupted system files entries can be a real threat to the well being of your computer.

There can be many events which may have resulted in the system files errors. An incomplete installation, an incomplete uninstall, improper deletion of applications or hardware. It can also be caused if your computer is recovered from a virus or adware/spyware attack or by an improper shutdown of the computer. All the above actives may result in the deletion or corruption of the entries in the windows system files. This corrupted system file will lead to the missing and wrongly linked information and files needed for the proper working of the application.

How to easily fix 80004005 error?

1. Start your computer and log on as an administrator.

2. Click the Start button then select All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and then click System Restore.

3. In the new window, select "Restore my computer to an earlier time" option and then click Next.

4. Select the most recent system restore point from the "On this list, click a restore point" list, and then click Next.

5. Click Next on the confirmation window.

6. Restarts the computer when the restoration is finished.

Found this here There is also an automated tool there to fix it. I don't work for the company, and I haven't used it. I don't endorse it.

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