long filename: cannot delete

[michael]

Hi there,

I cannot delete some files; error msg:

connot delete file; filename specified invalid or too
long; specify a different filename.

But I could not change the filename.

What can I do?

Thanks.

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Michael.

How about the old faithful: Open a "DOS" window and use dir /x to get the
8.3 filename. Then delete that.

RC

 

[LostBrilliance]

Howdy Michael.

What you need to do is open up a command line (Start > Run > Command) in windows. Then you need to navigate to the directory that the file(s) that're too long to delete are located in. (i.e, If it's on your Desktop and you're at C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>, you'd use cd Desktop, or if you were at C:\Windows>, you'd use cd.. | cd Documents and Settings | cd YOURACCOUNTNAME | cd Desktop

Once there, take the first 6 characters of your file name (i.e, if the file were ThisIsAReallyFrigginLongFileName.doc), then append a ~1 to those 6 characters. Your file will now look like ThisIs~1.doc (do not remove the file extension, if it's visible.)

Now all you should need to do is run the DEL command:

C:\Documents and Settings\YOURACCOUNTNAME\Desktop>DEL ThisIs~1.doc

If you encounter an error like this:Could not find C:\Documents and Settings\YOURACCOUNTNAME\ThisIs~1.doc, Make sure that the file you're trying to delete does not contain any out-of-the-ordinary attributes; the most common being Hidden (users hide the files they can't delete due to sheer frustration of having to look at them.) In this case you would want to append the /AH operator to the DEL command.

C:\Documents and Settings\YOURACCOUNTNAME\Desktop>DEL /AH ThisIs~1.doc

I hope this helps you with your problem, I know it was very frustrating when I first had it. =)