reNamerX Troubleshooting Guide

This guide addresses common issues you might encounter while using reNamerX and provides solutions to help you resolve them quickly.

Installation Issues

Error: "Unable to install reNamerX"

Possible causes:

• Insufficient permissions
• Antivirus blocking installation
• Corrupted installer file

Solutions:

1. Run the installer as Administrator (right-click → Run as Administrator)
2. Temporarily disable your antivirus software during installation
3. Re-download the installer from the official website
4. Verify you have at least 200MB of free disk space

Error: "Application failed to initialize"

Possible causes:

• Missing prerequisites (.NET Framework)
• Incomplete installation

Solutions:

1. Install the latest .NET Framework from Microsoft's website
2. Try uninstalling and reinstalling reNamerX
3. Use the portable version instead of the installer

Startup Problems

reNamerX Won't Launch

Possible causes:

• Corrupted configuration file
• Missing dependencies
• Issues with app data

Solutions:

1. Reset reNamerX by deleting the configuration file in %AppData%\reNamerX
2. Reinstall the application
3. Check Windows Event Viewer for detailed error information
4. Try running in compatibility mode for Windows 10

Slow Application Startup

Possible causes:

• Large preset database
• Too many saved operations in history
• System resource limitations

Solutions:

1. Clear application history (Settings → General → Clear History)
2. Remove unused presets (Presets → Manage Presets)
3. Close resource-intensive applications when using reNamerX
4. Check for system updates

File Selection Issues

Unable to Add Files

Possible causes:

• File in use by another application
• Insufficient permissions
• Path too long (exceeding system limits)

Solutions:

1. Close any applications that might be using the files
2. Run reNamerX as Administrator
3. Move files to a location with a shorter path
4. Check if the files exist and are accessible

Files Not Showing in List

Possible causes:

• Active filter is hiding files
• Files are not compatible
• Directory access issues

Solutions:

1. Clear the search/filter box
2. Check if you have read permissions for the directory
3. Verify the files aren't hidden or system files
4. Try adding the containing folder instead of individual files

Renaming Issues

"Access Denied" Errors

Possible causes:

• Files are in use by another application
• Insufficient permissions
• Files are read-only

Solutions:

1. Close any applications that might be using the files
2. Run reNamerX as Administrator
3. Check file properties and uncheck "Read-only"
4. Try using the "Safe Mode" renaming option (slower but more compatible)

File Name Conflicts

Possible causes:

• Renaming would result in duplicate file names
• Invalid characters in new file names
• File name would exceed system limits

Solutions:

1. Enable the "Auto Resolve Conflicts" option in Settings
2. Review preview before applying to identify conflicts
3. Modify your rules to ensure unique names (e.g., add numbering)
4. Check for invalid characters like \ / : * ? " < > |

Undo Not Working

Possible causes:

• Files were modified after renaming
• Files were moved or deleted
• System changes prevent reverting

Solutions:

1. Always use the Undo function immediately after renaming
2. Don't move or modify files between rename and undo operations
3. Use the operation history to see previous rename details
4. Consider creating a backup before large rename operations

Performance Issues

Slow Preview Generation

Possible causes:

• Large number of files
• Complex regular expressions
• System resource limitations

Solutions:

1. Work with smaller batches of files
2. Simplify regular expressions where possible
3. Close other resource-intensive applications
4. Increase the preview delay in Settings

Application Freezes

Possible causes:

• Processing too many files simultaneously
• Recursive operations causing high CPU usage
• Memory limitations

Solutions:

1. Work with smaller batches of files
2. Avoid extremely complex regular expressions with many lookups
3. Restart the application to clear memory
4. Update to the latest version, which may include performance improvements

Preferences and Settings Issues

Settings Not Saving

Possible causes:

• Insufficient permissions for settings file
• Corrupted configuration
• Path issues

Solutions:

1. Run reNamerX as Administrator when changing settings
2. Reset settings to default (Settings → Reset to Default)
3. Check if the %AppData% folder is accessible
4. Try the portable version which stores settings locally

Custom Presets Missing

Possible causes:

• Preset file corruption
• Accidental deletion
• Import/export issues

Solutions:

1. Check the presets directory in %AppData%\reNamerX\Presets
2. Restore from a backup if available
3. Export presets regularly to prevent future loss
4. Reinstall the application but keep the %AppData% folder intact

Recovery and Undo

How to Recover From Unwanted Rename

If you've performed a rename operation and need to revert it:

1. Immediately use the Undo function (Ctrl+Z or Edit → Undo)
2. Check the Operation History (View → Operation History)
3. Use the "Reverse Operation" feature on a past operation
4. If undo isn't possible, use a file recovery tool to restore from backups

Still Having Problems?

If you're experiencing issues not covered in this guide:

1. Check the reNamerX FAQ for additional information
2. Search or post on the GitHub Issues page
3. Contact support at support@renamerx.com with:
   • A detailed description of the issue
   • Steps to reproduce
   • Your system information
   • Screenshots if applicable