Windows 10 makes copy of file instead of replacing

[votherl]

Hi, On it's own, Windows 10 File Explorer suddenly started creating a second file with the same name(copy) when I back up a file to a USB. How do I revert back to "replace"? Now I've got all these copy# versions filling my USB backups! There's no option to choose what I want to do, in addition to no warning which file is "newer", as there was in Windows 7. Thanks!!

Okay - it IS a problem: If you try to copy a file from QUICK ACCESS (the Win 10 version "recent files" in Win 7) to another place, i.e. backup a file you just worked on, it will NOT replace it but will create a SECOND file, with the same name plus a hyphen and the word copy. So file.docx will be saved as file - copy.docx, and the next time as file - copy(2).docx.

Copying from the desktop or from C: docs works as intended, it is the Quick Access. I don't see any place to adjust this.

What a pain!!

 

[Colif]

is it only on the USB? Can you copy files in your documents folder on PC?

Have you got the anniversary update? Did this happen after that or just randomly?

 

[votherl]

is it only on the USB? Can you copy files in your documents folder on PC?

Have you got the anniversary update? Did this happen after that or just randomly?

I only installed Win 10 a few days before the free download was up. I haven't gotten a notice about the update, so I assume I don't have it. I don't see anything different....

Well dang, after shutting down my computer for lunch now it's back to working!! I created a test docx, saved it to desktop and copied to file exp. Tried editing and then copying from both locations one to another, and to a USB and all asked me if I wanted to replace. Maybe something I had accidentally changed a temporary setting?? Any ideas?

Thanks.

 

[Colif]

restarting PC, even though its a cliche, actually can fix things. Its first thing I do when weird things happen.

 

[orlbuckeye]

Hi, On it's own, Windows 10 File Explorer suddenly started creating a second file with the same name(copy) when I back up a file to a USB. How do I revert back to "replace"? Now I've got all these copy# versions filling my USB backups! There's no option to choose what I want to do, in addition to no warning which file is "newer", as there was in Windows 7. Thanks!!

Are you sure? Because windows won't allow a file with the same name and it changes the name to copy of filename. Do you have file extensions set to display? If you don't filename.xls and filename.exe will display as the same filename but really are different.

 

[votherl]

restarting PC, even though its a cliche, actually can fix things. Its first thing I do when weird things happen.

Yeah, so maybe it was just a glitch and now it's okay, though I wish I knew what happened in case I did something to cause it, but I don't think I did.

Thanks again, appreciate your taking the time to answer.

 

[votherl]

Hi, On it's own, Windows 10 File Explorer suddenly started creating a second file with the same name(copy) when I back up a file to a USB. How do I revert back to "replace"? Now I've got all these copy# versions filling my USB backups! There's no option to choose what I want to do, in addition to no warning which file is "newer", as there was in Windows 7. Thanks!!

Are you sure? Because windows won't allow a file with the same name and it changes the name to copy of filename. Do you have file extensions set to display? If you don't filename.xls and filename.exe will display as the same filename but really are different.

It changed the name by adding "copy" to it after my file's name, the next was file name copy 2, etc. Anyhoo, since turning my computer off and on it's now working though I wish I knew what happened. Awful that Win 10 doesn't specifiy which version/location is newer.

 

[Colif]

i had a problem last year when permissions were all messed up and i couldn't save anything in my documents library folders.. i ended up with so many copies of some things I don't know whats the best versions anymore. I know that feeling.