I am not sure what OS and file system that you are using.
Under Windows, this cannot happen. The rename will fail if the target file exists. 
C:\Projects_Perl\testing>echo "this is orginial file" > originalfile.t
+xt

C:\Projects_Perl\testing>echo "this the new file" > newfile.txt

C:\Projects_Perl\testing>rename newfile.txt originalfile.txt
A duplicate file name exists, or the file
cannot be found.

C:\Projects_Perl\testing>rename originalfile.txt  originalfile.bak

C:\Projects_Perl\testing>rename newfile.txt originalfile.txt

C:\Projects_Perl\testing>type originalfile.txt
"this the new file"

C:\Projects_Perl\testing>

[download]
This thread doesn't get into journaling filesystems. The vast majority of folks here are using standard versions of Windows or Unix variants.

I am aware of the issues you describe, but we are getting into very specialized things with that discussion. I think launching an OS specific rename command with "override" options is also beyond the scope here.

In reply to Re^5: Read in hostfile, modify, output by Marshall
in thread Read in hostfile, modify, output by razmeth

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