Briefly, computer full, bought external hard drive, copied photos to HD and now cant name anything. Any clues as to what I've done wrong?

What kind of computer? What is the operating system?
If you have a Mac, read no further, I know little about Macs.
If PC, then-

You copied photo files, "jpg" type files. How, from the computer to the new HD?
Can you still find them on the computer itself?
What do you see when you "see" them on the new HD, the file(s) name?
You can't name anything, on the original computer and/or on the new HD?

regards - tom

Hi Tom,
Windows XP
I copied and pasted, yes they are all there.
Yes jpg.
Nothing has changed, I've checked the properties of photos that went over against ones that didnt, no change.
It's just that when I go to rename, it says they will become unstable, and they do.
Copying them back doesnt help.
Tom I'm wondering if putting things on an external HD possibly archives them.
I'll go up the computer shop this morning and ask them. The ones that we copied on to a usb drive thingy, are fine and copied them the same way.

You say file properties are the same, not now "Read-only"?
If the HD is full, full, full, not good. Should have at least 10% free/open space on HD.
I have several HD connected to PC using USB. No problems, they look/act just like an internal PC IDE/SATA connection.

Don't know. If the shop hasn't figured it out, try posting problem to this camera/photo forum-
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/forum.asp?forum=1004
Lot of knowledge there, you will have to register for the forum. But someone will have your answer.
Let us know.

regards - tom

Tom, "FULL" I didnt realize, will buy a new puter this morning.
Yes my understanding and thoughts, were that the ex HD should work exactly the same as the internal, I checked documents and they can be worked on, it's just the darn photos. No I checked the Read only nothing at all is different.
If I find out anything I'll post here.
Thanks
Dot