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Mark F (UAMS) · Guest

First, it drives me crazy that NTFS will allow the saving of invalid or too
long file or folder names! This is especially true when users having "Change"
access can create their own invalid folders and file names on the server!

Secondly, I have a folder that is too long and I cannot delete or rename the
folder. The suggestions and fixes in the Microsoft KB doesn't work in this
instance and I'm stuck. I've even used the Command prompt and drilled down to
the folder above to try to rename or delete the folder (I've used quotation
marks around the folder name as it contains spaces) and I keep getting the
following error:
"the filename or extension is too long"

If anyone has a solution, I'm ALL ears!

Thank you,
Mark

Dave Patrick · Guest

From a command prompt try;

del \\.\Drive:\directory\filename
(Note: the period between \\ and \)

Also

dir /x
and try deleting them using their 8.3 short names.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

Mark F (UAMS) · Guest

The first option didn't even recognize the folder.

However, the second option (using the DOS 8.3 format), "saw" the folder and
when using the DEL it prompted me if I was sure if I wanted to delete the
folder, but after pressing the "y" key and went back to the command promt,
the folder remained.

Is it time to punt?
--
Thank you,
Mark

Dave Patrick · Guest

After backup you might try running;
chkdsk /r
from the recovery console command line. (/r implies /f and /p)

To start the Recovery Console, start the computer from the Windows 2003
CD-Rom. At the "Welcome to Setup" screen. Press F10 or R to repair a Windows
2003 installation, and then press C to use the Recovery Console. The
Recovery Console then prompts you for the administrator password. If you do
not have the correct password, Recovery Console does not allow access to the
computer. If an incorrect password is entered three times, the Recovery
Console quits and restarts the computer. Note If the registry is corrupted
or missing or no valid installations are found, the Recovery Console starts
in the root of the startup volume without requiring a password. You cannot
access any folders, but you can carry out commands such as chkdsk, fixboot,
and fixmbr for limited disk repairs. Once the password has been validated,
you have full access to the Recovery Console, but limited access to the hard
disk. You can only access the following folders on your computer: drive
root, %systemroot% or %windir%

Also you can try deleting from the recovery console. First you'll need to
Control Panel|Admin Tools|Local Security Policy
Recovery console: "Allow floppy copy and access to all drives/folders" set
to enabled

Then from the recovery console command line;
SET allowallpaths = TRUE

to gain access to all folders and try deleting from here.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

Mark F (UAMS) · Guest

I was afraid of that...

The Server OS group should consider modifying the kernel to prevent the
creation of these types of files and folders. This would make this problem
obsolete.

Since this folder is buried 5 subfolders deep and I have the entire drive
backed up (using Veritas BENT 10), I'd probably better off, formatting the
drive and restoring the data from tape.

What a royal pain!

Thanks for your quick response to my question!
--
Thank you,
Mark

Dave Patrick · Guest

I'm not saying there is file system damage, just a possibility. You might
just try deleting from the RC using the 8.3 short name.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

Mark F (UAMS) · Guest

Okay. I'll try that early one morning when I can have the server down.

After I try that, I'll post it here (one way or other) as an update.

Again, thanks for your help!
--
Thank you,
Mark

Dave Patrick · Guest

You're welcome.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

Chriske911 · Guest

Mark F (UAMS) · Guest

That did the trick! (Using the rd utility).

The problem is now resolved. Thank you all!
--
Thank you,
Mark

rorki · Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 1

Mark, did you ever find a way, perhaps via Group Policy, to prevent users creating long folder/filenames? I'd like that one, I have users who put more text in the filename than they do in the document. and then they duplicate the same info in the folders used to store these files... christ...

Help, if you have any, would be appreciated!

Jon.

Cannot delete or rename a long folder name in Windows Server

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