# Renaming files in Windows **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 12, 2002, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/renaming-files-in-windows/97872 "2002-03-12T17:20:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Drew\_Blade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/958977/32.png) [@Drew\_Blade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drew_Blade)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2002, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/renaming-files-in-windows/97872/1 "2002-03-12T17:20:38Z")
Every week at work we have to rename a file from “this.dat” to “that.ach”. Until today there was no problem, we just right-clicked on the file icon, chose rename, and changed the name. Today when I tried to rename the file, the name under the icon did not include the “.dat” extension, and nothing I have been able to think of has let me get around this lack. I can change the name left of the dot from “this” to “that”. But if I try to rename the file to what we need, I always end up with something stupid like “that.ach.dat”. The “.dat” is always stuck on the end of whatever I type. (I am able to rename it OK in DOS, but the people who are supposed to do this renaming are not DOS users.) A great deal has changed from last week to this–the previous PC died so we are using a different one. But both machines are Windows98, so I’m hoping there is some setting I am unfamiliar with that will put things back to normal. I tried the search, but had no luck with it. So anybody out here have any ideas what I need to do? ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2002, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/renaming-files-in-windows/97872/2 "2002-03-12T17:28:44Z")
I’ve been on XP for a while, but the basic premise is the same, what you need to do is tell Win 98 to display the full filename. Open My Computer Right click on a drive Go to Folder Options Go to View Make sure “hide extensions for known file types” is not checked… if it is take the check out. you can now change the extensions. ---
**Author:** ![Drew\_Blade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/958977/32.png) [@Drew\_Blade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drew_Blade)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2002, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/renaming-files-in-windows/97872/3 "2002-03-12T17:48:03Z")
Thanks **BurnMeUp** , that looks like the solution I needed. Ya just can’t beat the SDMB . . . ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2002, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/renaming-files-in-windows/97872/4 "2002-03-12T20:09:08Z")
The other day here at work one of the guys I work with was getting upset at the Windows 2000 on my machine. I prefer to look at files with Windows Explorer, he prefers My Computer—but either way— The file extensions don’t show up for me. I’m supposed to have them showing. I consulted Windows Help. It answered, and I quote, > [@](#): > > **To see all files and filename extensions** > > 1. In My Computer or Windows NT Explorer, open the folder you want to look at. > > 2. On the **View** menu, click **Options.** > > 3. Click the **View** tab, and then click **Show All Files**. > If you want to see all filename extensions, make sure the **Hide MS-DOS File Extensions** box is not selected. Great, except that my View menu does not have “Options”! :mad: I wonder if Tech Central here disabled the View \> Options the way they disabled the Games on the Accessories menu. Lord only knows how much they have buggered around the employees’ Windows setup here. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2002, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/renaming-files-in-windows/97872/5 "2002-03-12T20:49:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jomo Mojo \* > \*\*I consulted Windows Help. It answered, and I quote,Great, except that my View menu does not have “Options”! :mad: I wonder if Tech Central here disabled the View \> Options the way they disabled the Games on the Accessories menu. Lord only knows how much they have buggered around the employees’ Windows setup here. > \*\* On Win2k, the Folder Options are under “Tools” not “View” And while access to this may be turned off, your techs would have to be insane to keep the display of file extensions turned off. That’s how viruses can sneak in more easily, plus it makes working on the computer a real pain. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2002, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/renaming-files-in-windows/97872/6 "2002-03-12T20:56:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RealityChuck \* > \*\*On Win2k, the Folder Options are under “Tools” not “View” Yeah, except the Tools menu doesn’t have Options either. I don’t have access to Options. Believe me, I looked everywhere. > [@](#): > > And while access to this may be turned off, your techs would have to be insane to keep the display of file extensions turned off. That’s how viruses can sneak in more easily, plus it makes working on the computer a real pain. \*\* :rolleyes: Tell me about it! Who knows what they were thinking! ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2002, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/renaming-files-in-windows/97872/7 "2002-03-12T21:22:53Z")
well in the NT based operating systems the folder options also allow for you to make private or secured folders that require a password. It’s possible that the Sys Admins don’t want you hiding anyhting.