Trying to rename my admin folder but cant

im trying to rename my admin folder for security but the ftp will not let me. I changed the configure file to use the name that i want to use for the admin. Now when i try to change the admin, it tells me cannot change admin because a file or folder with that name already exists. I dont know what is going on here. Can anyone help me?

Which FTP program are you using?
Do you have a control panel with your hosting account that might let you do the rename via your browser?

im using both dreamweaver as well as transmit on os x, and they're both telling me the same thing

EDIT: oops misread your question, the fix below will most likely not help your situation. but ill leave it here for any other searcher.

This is sometimes bothersome feature of windows. Since another program is currently accessing that folder it becomes write protected. Just close down all programs that may be accessing information from that folder like dreamweaver and change the folder name using just one program.

Step 1: Save your work and close your programs, you just need to close all the programs that may be accessing that folder like dreamweaver, but for the sake of getting it right the first time just close everything down.

Step 2: Open up "my computer" and navigate to the folder you wish to change the name of. You should be able to change the name now. If not do a restart of your system and try this step again.

Good luck,

Dan

fanmap81:

Now when i try to change the admin, it tells me cannot change admin because a file or folder with that name already exists.

Now... I don't mean to be insulting. I have no idea how well you know computing in general... but is it possible that the folder already exists?

a) is it possible you are actually renaming it TO admin (because you don't fully understand how to "rename" something?)

or

b) is it possible that the name you are choosing happens to be one of the folders that does already exist? Try something random like LKJF2X and see if that works.

Again, I apologize if that completely insults your intelligence.

• Steven

i am not naming it admin........im trying to change the name from admin to something else. The something else name is what im being told already exists when i know that it dosent

Could this happen if a file within the folder is read-only?

If you followed all the instructions, you would have at some point made the /admin/includes/configure.php file read-only... perhaps that is preventing the name change. Try giving that file red/write status and try again.

• Steven

did that already......first thing i checked

Some web host control panels are listed as "admin" and you obviously can't change their names.

Are you certain you are trying to change the correct directory?

Worst case, download a copy of the "admin" folder to your PC, rename the folder, and upload the new folder to your server. Then delete the old one.

You'll likely find additional challenges when attempting to delete it. It could be an ownership/permissions thing, but you already mentioned attempting to alter read-only flags.

i remedied it. It seems that when i changed the configure file, it made a new folder that i wasnt aware of. Upon browsing through my directory, i found this folder with the name i was trying to use, deleted it, renamed my admin, and now everything is fine. Thank you guys