Delete long file names windows 7
There's more info on the extended path syntax in the Microsoft Docs: The paths I use above still need to be fully qualified and must include the trailing spaces! To capture those trailing spaces I go into Explorer and copy the path from the address bar and paste it into the command line surrounded by quotes. The \\?\ relates to Extended Path Syntax that supports long filenames as well as apparently being more lax with spaces in path names. This does work: rd /s "\\?\C:\Web Sites\\faq " You have to use the extended path syntax that supports long paths and apparently various special cases like trailing spaces. Rather than using just a simple path like the following, which does not work: rd /s "C:\Web Sites\\faq " Use the following commands at your own risk. So be very, very careful and if possible run non-destructive commands like listings first before deleting files. The following commands will delete files on your system and you won't be able to restore them.
#Delete long file names windows 7 windows#
Windows since version 7 has long path and extra characters in file names support via a special extended path syntax that uses a path-like prefix. The solution to deleting the files is to use the Windows Extended Path Format ( \\?\ path prefix) when deleting the folder from the command line. Deleting the Folders with Extended Path Format If an application creates filenames or nested paths that are longer than 256 chars long Explorer and most commands can't deal with those either using standard file operations.
#Delete long file names windows 7 full#
This behavior is similar to files that have full paths longer than the old 256 char MAX_LENGTH. Renaming here by trimming the spaces just fails, as does trying to move the folder to a new location. Notice how the cursor in the folder edit textbox is way out to the right which is indicative of the extra spaces in the file name. The folder names include trailing spaces and this appears to throw off some of the older Windows APIs that return directory information. It turns out the issue is in my case is trailing spaces in the folder names. It looks like two different APIs being used - one that can deal with extended files and one that cannot. Part of the confusion seems to be that some operations/applications can see the files and others can't, sometimes even inside of the same application - like seeing the file in Explorer and then not finding it trying to delete it. Using Windows Terminal commands ( REN/ DEL) even with full paths.Moving the folder to a new folder to delete the parent (didn't find to move).Renaming the folder (file can't be found or file exists already).I tried a bunch of stuff that didn't work: Even using DIR /x which should show short/fixed up filenames, in a command window didn't show those missing folders.
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Notice that none of the problem folders are showing up in the directory listing except the gorgeview-guidebook which was manually created without trailing spaces. Some interesting things happen with this: If I do a directory listing of the parent folder, the 'misnamed' folder(s) (there are several of them in this root folder) using the command window or PowerShell they don't show in the listing:
![delete long file names windows 7 delete long file names windows 7](https://programmerah.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/cannotperformaction_thumb.png)
Welcome to Windows using multiple different APIs to work with file information. The file is obviously there and I'm pointing at the folder to delete, but alas. Verify the item's location and try again. When I tried to delete the folders I'd get this lovely error message: Some applications would see the folders (Explorer primarily) while others (like the Windows Command Prompt) don't. The problem is that Explorer can see the files, but can't delete them.
![delete long file names windows 7 delete long file names windows 7](https://content.spiceworksstatic.com/service.community/p/how_to_step_attachments/0000105280/55ae5ddf/attached_file/1f0d53362bf22f3314f87276d470157df47865d356036b5f953cab76f7c7ef38_file-name-too-long2.jpg)
Windows apparently does not like folders (or files) with trailing spaces. It's an old legacy application and the field input defaults to the extra spaces that weren't trimmed off before sending to the server resulting in the server happily creating folders with spaces. I ran into a nasty folder naming issue recently where I was unable to delete a number of folders on my server.Īfter some digging I figured out that the folders were created by the FTP server and a client application that was uploading files via FTP, but failed to trim trailing spaces of input on the publish folder.