When renaming files in windows 7, prevent explorer from instantly resorting the list (and losing your place)

Are you pressing enter ↵ to finish a rename? I know if you just hit tab, it will go to the next file on the list while the renamed file moves. Maybe you have something set, so I apologize if this doesn't work for you.

As stated in Biggest Explorer annoyance: Automatic sorting (Windows 7, Server 2008/R2 and Vista), this is not entirely possible.

I know the following workarounds:

• Disable Auto Arrange

  With Auto Arrange disabled, you can organize your icons freely. After renaming all you have to rename, you can re-enable it. You can download batch files for dis- an enabling Auto Arrange from Windows 7 Forums.

  Note that this won't work in the Details view and it requires restarting the Windows Explorer every time you switch it on or off. Also, be aware that you might lose some folder settings in the process.

• Share your folders

  When accessing shared folders (since it's usually done over a network), auto-refreshing is disabled. You can share all drives with yourself and access them over the network.

  Using the following method, you can do so with one single click.

  1. Temporarily save this code as norefresh.reg and merge it with the registry:

     Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
     
     [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\norefresh]
     @="Explore without auto-refresh"
     
     [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\norefresh\command]
     @="C:\\norefresh.bat"
     

  2. Save the following code as C:\norefresh.bat:

     @echo off
     net share drive%cd:~0,1%=%cd:~0,3% /grant:%username%,full 2>nul
     explorer \\%userdomain%\drive%cd:~0,1%\%cd:~3%
     for /d %%d in (A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z) do (
         net share drive%%d=%%d:\ /grant:%username%,full 2>nul)
     

  3. In any folder, you can now perform a right-click and choose Explore w/o auto-refresh.

  This solution is hacky (at best), but my personal favorite.

• Use an Explorer replacement

  File managers like Xplorer² let you choose whether you want the auto-fresh functionality or not.

  In Xplorer², you can choose in

  Tools -> Options -> Window -> Automatically re-sort contents after moving/copying etc.

  Be aware that you can use Xplorer² only for 21 days without purchasing a license.