Can't Remove Files with Reserved Names in Windows NT

Article ID: Q102231
Creation Date: 29-JUL-1993
Revision Date: 25-MAR-1997

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1

Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1

Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 3.5 and 3.51

Microsoft Windows NT Server version 3.5 and 3.51

Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0

Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0

The policy for creating files in Windows NT or Windows NT Advanced Server is controlled by the individual application. Therefore, it is possible for an application to create a file with an illegal or reserved name, such as LPT1 or PRN. There is no user interface functionality for removing this kind of file.

RESOLUTION

If the file was created on a file allocation table (FAT) partition, you may be able to delete it under MS-DOS using a command similar to either of the following:

   DEL PR?.*

   -or-

   DEL LPT?.*

These commands will not work on an NTFS partition. Since NTFS supports the POSIX subsystem, and filenames such as PRN are legal under the POSIX subsystem, these files must be allowed by the operating system. However, the operating system assumes that the application that created them can also delete them.

These files would be easy to delete (unlink) from a simple, native POSIX application.

Additional query words: prodnt
Keywords : kbother ntfilesys NTSrvWkst
Version : 3.1 3.5 3.51 4.0
Platform : WinNT

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.