try to create a folder and name it "con" on win xp. it's imposible. why?

Question

try to create a folder and name it "con" on win xp. it's imposible. why?

Answer 1

Because there are a few pre-defined "devices" in Windows' OS, a holdover from old DOS systems. These pre-defined devices are reserved words that can't be used for folder names or new devices. "CON" (console) is one of them, so is PRN (printer), COM (serial port), etc.

Open a command prompt window in Windows, go to a directory that has a text file in it, and type the following:



type filename.txt > CON:



replacing filename.txt with the name of your file. The file will be output to the CON (console) device, which is your screen. The ">" redirection arrow directs the output to the specified device. You can send a file to the printer from the command prompt with:



type filename.txt > PRN:



You can also send the output to a new file by using the redirection that way:



type filename.txt > newfile.txt



That's why you can't use CON and other such reserved words for folders or filenames -- that would confuse things when redirection operations happen. If you had a folder called PRN, and did redirection, where should the OS send it, your file or the printer? :)

Answer 2

in accordance to this quite breathless little message, which circulates through e-mail and on-line, that's not a probability to create a folder named "CON" on a Microsoft abode windows depending computer. The message claims that no longer even invoice Gates or the entire Microsoft "crew" can clarify why this may be so. that's in truth completely genuine that you won't be able to create a folder named "CON", nor are you able to rename an present folder to "CON". even with the indisputable fact that, there is not any secret surrounding this limit by any ability. The "crew" at Microsoft, and an impressive many others as well, understand completely properly why you won't be able to call a folder "CON". "CON" and a range of of alternative different personality strings are in truth reserved names that bypass decrease back to the days of DOS and won't be able for use to call folders or information. different reserved names are: PRN AUX NUL LPT1 COM1 potentialchronic letter - A: to Z: multiple others

Answer 3

here is why http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/...kc_fil_rbrx.asp



File names in Windows XP Professional can be up to 255 characters and can contain spaces, multiple periods, and special characters that are not allowed in MS-DOS file names. Windows XP Professional makes it possible for other operating systems to access files that have long names by generating an MS-DOS-readable (8.3) name for each file. These MS-DOS-readable names also enable MS-DOS-based and Windows 3.x–based applications to recognize and load files that have long file names. When a program saves a file on a computer running Windows XP Professional, both the 8.3 file name and long file name are retained.



Note



The 8.3 format means that files can have between 1 and 8 characters in the file name. The name must start with a letter or a number and can contain any characters except the following:

. " / \ [ ] : ; | = , * ? (space)

An 8.3 file name typically has a file name extension that is from one to three characters long and has the same character restrictions. A period separates the file name from the file name extension.

Several special file names are reserved by the system and cannot be used for files or folders:

CON, AUX, COM1, COM2, COM3, COM4, LPT1, LPT2, LPT3, PRN, NUL

Answer 4

con is a reserved word in DOS / Windows OS

Answer 5

weird didn't knew about that till now, I'm amazed

Answer 6

maybe there is an extension for that already.

Answer 7

Thanks for the Norton patch! Email me at [e-mail]!