renaming files

[susie876]

when i save pictures to my computer i want to rename them but since my comp has reformatted i cannot rename them i get a message saying if you change the file extension the file may become unusable can i fix this
thanks
susan

[puzzlesRus]

Why would you want to change the file extension ?
For example, supposing your picture is named mypicture.jpg and you wanted to rename it holidays.jpg, you only need to overwrite MYPICTURE with HOLIDAYS, leaving the .jpg bit alone.

[vehelpfulguy]

Within a folder you can either show or hide the extension.
So it can either show MYPICTURE.JPG or just MYPICTURE.

My guess is that it used to hide the extension, but now after a reinstall it now shows them.

So when you do a rename the extension is being shown.

To hide the extension do as follows

Open a folder, and choose Tools then Folder Options. Then choose the View tab.

Within Advanced Settings select the option Hide Extensions for Known File Types.

You can press "Apply to all folders" if you want

This will show your files with no extension so if you now do a rename it will only rename the filename and not the extension.

[puzzlesRus]

The point is, it would appear that the user has either tried to rename the extension or renamed the file without ANY extension.

[Kerplunk]

Yes puzzlesRus that is the point. But, "the user" has asked for a solution which vehelpfulguy has provided along with an explanation of why this has happened.

[susie876]

thank you so much i followed the instructions and it worked
many thanks again
susan