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# Using Quotes with Filenames Causes Strange Errors

Article ID: 104073

Article Last Modified on 4/13/2004

APPLIES TO

- Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.1
- Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1

This article was previously published under Q104073

## SYMPTOMS

When you put quotes around a filenames in Command Prompt, the command does not complete and error messages appear.

### Steps to Reproduce Problem

1. Use any text editor, such as Notepad, to create a file called TEST.TXT in C:\, containing some text.
2. Start Command Prompt (CMD.EXE) from the Main group in Program Manager.
3. Change to the Root directory of drive C.
4. Run the following commands:

   del "c:\test.txt"
   ren "c:\test.txt" "c:\testx.txt"

The following error messages appear:

- Could Not Find c:\est.txt
  (Note the missing t.)
- The syntax of the command is incorrect

NOTE: These incorrect error messages appear in any file system: FAT, HPFS, or NTFS.

## RESOLUTION

Do not use quotes for the RENAME or DELETE commands, or do not use the full path when renaming or deleting files.

## STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 3.1 and Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

Additional query words: prodnt

Keywords: KB104073