Emacs will not visit new file but insists on opening a similar one

Question

The problem is quite simple but frustrating. When I try to visit a new file with C-x C-f which is named basis.m emacs keeps visiting the similar named file haarbasis.m which already exists in the same directory. It keeps prompting me for similar names and I am unable to visit a new empty file. I had recently installed elpy for a python IDE if it makes any difference.

How can I force emacs not to visit a file with C-x C-f unless I explicitly state which file to visit?

Answer 1

elpy loads idomenu which in turn loads ido. What you are describing sounds like ido-powered completion of file names. You can disable it after C-x C-f by pressing C-f.

Answer 2

As Alex mentions the string of packages that brought you to ido-mode, this answer depends on the answer to your statement below, which may be why something is happening to you when you do C-x C-f

When I try to visit a new file...

When your pointer/cursor is at the end of a word, idowill look for a file in the current directory with that name. It may even traverse down the relative path too if it's set up like a file directory structure e.g. show/basis.m

The commentor Jon O says, Even if this is happening C-j will create a new file for you.