Every actual filename in explorer (well I am using Windows Commander). I have 76 different files with the filename Alice Cooper - School's Out.mp3, they all have tracknumbers and therefore MC inserted Alice Cooper - School's Out(*).mp3
This is because Windows can't have two files in the same folder with the same name (obviously) and you don't have MC set to include the Track # (or some other file-unique piece of information) in the Filename. Since MC doesn't want to overwrite the files, it appends the (#) to the end of each subsequent duplicate name.
To change what MC sets as the filenames by default when ripping new music, check Tools --> Options --> File Locations and set the Filename Rule. Check the Help File if you need more information on this.
To change the Filenames of Music you've already ripped to your drive, select the files inside MC that you want to rename, right click and go to Library Tools --> Rename Files From Properties.
You can actually move the files to your MP3 partition and rename them in the same step (and avoid having to re-import) if you use the Rename Files From Properties tool.
For example, say you rip all your misic to drive F:\. Then you tag the files correctly inside MC, and then you want to move them to your MP3 partition (for the sake of this excercize say that's in M:\mp3\.
Don't do the move inside Windows Explorer (or any custom shell) use MC to do it instead!
Instead, select the files you just finished tagging in MC. Right click and go to Library Tools --> Rename Files from Properties. Put the Following info in:
Directories: (check the box)
Base Path: M:\mp3\
Rule: [Artist]\[Album]
Filename: (check the box)
Rule: [Track #] - [Name]
Now, say when you did this, you had selected the entire album "Guero" by Beck. You would end up with:
A folder inside M:\mp3\ called "Beck" with a folder inside it called "Guero". Inside the Guero folder you'd have:
01 - E-Pro.mp3
02 - Qué Onda Guero.mp3
03 - Girl.mp3
04 - Missing.mp3
05 - Black Tambourine.mp3
06 - Earthquake Weather.mp3
07 - Hell Yes.mp3
08 - Broken Drum.mp3
09 - Scarecrow.mp3
10 - Go It Alone.mp3
11 - Farewell Ride.mp3
12 - Rental Car.mp3
13 - Emergency Exit.mp3
Then there would be no (#) because there'd be no duplicate file names. Understand? If you manage your media inside MC it won't "lose" the files, so you won't have to do the re-import.
Anyway, with Windows Commander (now Total Commander) it's very easy to batchrename. First I do a search, then I have an option to view it in the panel, select all and use the rename utility. Very handy in a situation like the one I had. All (*) gone in just a few seconds.
True, but MC is
much more adept at doing this itself with media files. It's one of MC's most powerful features. The example I gave above just scratches the surface of what you can do with file renaming rules. You can include all kinds of conditional rules that only include pieces of information if they're populated, and all sorts of fun stuff.
Try it out and explore!