Cannot create any file with any extension anywhere with the name "con"

  • Thread starter Thread starter ju.c
  • Start date Start date
J

ju.c

I'm serious! I was tweaking config.sys files and wanted to keep them
sorted together, so I renamed some to conf.sys, config2.sys, etc.

But when I renamed one to "con.sys" I got this error:

"Error Renaming File or Folder
Cannot rename ... document: a file with the name you specified already
exists. Specify a different file name."

I thought there was a corrupt file in the folder so, after I could find
no problem files I ran chkdsk. When I tried to name the file now, I
got the error message again. Then I tried creating one everywhere,
and the extension didn't matter. Any file with any extension in any
folder named "con" fails with the error! Would someone try it and
let me know if it's my computer or a Windows bug. Thanks.


ju.c
 
I'm serious! I was tweaking config.sys files and wanted to keep them
sorted together, so I renamed some to conf.sys, config2.sys, etc.

But when I renamed one to "con.sys" I got this error:

"Error Renaming File or Folder
Cannot rename ... document: a file with the name you specified already
exists. Specify a different file name."

I thought there was a corrupt file in the folder so, after I could find
no problem files I ran chkdsk. When I tried to name the file now, I
got the error message again. Then I tried creating one everywhere,
and the extension didn't matter. Any file with any extension in any
folder named "con" fails with the error! Would someone try it and
let me know if it's my computer or a Windows bug. Thanks.

ju.c
Click to expand...

CON = console.

You can't name a folder LPT1, or COM1 either - and other things.

It's not a bug, it's a feature. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa365247.aspx

Jose
 
ju.c said:
I'm serious! I was tweaking config.sys files and wanted to keep them
sorted together, so I renamed some to conf.sys, config2.sys, etc.

But when I renamed one to "con.sys" I got this error:

"Error Renaming File or Folder
Cannot rename ... document: a file with the name you specified already
exists. Specify a different file name."

I thought there was a corrupt file in the folder so, after I could
find no problem files I ran chkdsk. When I tried to name the file
now, I got the error message again. Then I tried creating one
everywhere, and the extension didn't matter. Any file with any
extension in any
folder named "con" fails with the error! Would someone try it and
let me know if it's my computer or a Windows bug. Thanks.


ju.c
Click to expand...

"con" is a reserved word and thus cannot be used in the way you're
trying to use it. It stands for "console" and is one of the internals
that control where output goes. There are others, too, if you wish to
peruse the MS Site and search for "reserved names" I think it is.

HTH,

Twayne`
 
Oh, thanks.


Twayne said:
"con" is a reserved word and thus cannot be used in the way you're
trying to use it. It stands for "console" and is one of the internals
that control where output goes. There are others, too, if you wish to
peruse the MS Site and search for "reserved names" I think it is.

HTH,

Twayne`
Click to expand...
 
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