If you have a series of files in one folder that are related but have uninteresting or nondescriptive names (e.g., pictures uploaded from a digital camera or a set of documents) . You can easily rename the series.
1. Navigate (with My Computer/Explorer) to whichever folder in which you've saved the series of files.
2. From the View menu or the Views button on the toolbar click on the type of View you would like to work with (I like Thumbnail view for pictures or graphic files, Tiles for documents).
Arrange your files:
If the file series is not already arranged in the order you would like the files to be named do the next two steps. If they are already arranged the way you like skip to the Rename section below.
3. On the View menu mouse down to the "Arrange Icons by" choice, on the fly out menu, make sure the options "Show in Groups" and "Auto Arrange" are unchecked. (If checked click on the option to uncheck). You should however check the "Align to Grid" option. (It makes the files snap into place when you move them.)
4. In the folder you can now left-click on a file and while holding the mouse button down drag (AKA Click-N-Drag) files to the position (order) you would like them.
Once you have the files arranged in the order you like ...
Rename
5. Select all the files you want to rename starting with the last to the first file in the series.
How to do this - left-click your mouse in a clear/white area below the last file you want to rename, then, holding the button down, move/drag your mouse over all the files until you include (the filenames and thumbnails/icons will become "selected" as you drag over them) all to be renamed, ending with the first file in the list. Release the mouse button.
If you "Selected" too many files you can press and hold the Ctrl key while clicking the file with the mouse to "deselect" an individual file. Or you can "add" a file you missed to the selection using the same method.
6. Rightûclick the first picture, and then mouse to and click Rename. The file's name will be displayed selected in a box.
7. Type, over the selected text, a new descriptive name for the first file (e.g., Christmas2001), then click in the clear/white space next to one of the files.
Abaracadabara Bill G. does magic! All the files will be renamed in sequence, Christmas2001, Christmas2001(1), Christmas2001(2), and so on!
Note: If the file's extension (e.g, .jpg or .doc) is included in the rename box (someone has unchecked "Hide extensions for known file types" in the Folder Options View) be sure to include it in the new name or you will get an warning message about changing file type.