Cannot create new folder with the name <aux>

Rich Cz · Oct 30, 2003

When I attempt to create a new folder named <aux> using
explorer the following error is displayed:

cannot rename New Folder: A file with the name you
specified already exists.

At a command prompt: md aux
The directory name is invalid.

What is special about the name <aux>?

Bjorn Landemoo · Oct 30, 2003

Rich

It is a reserved name for a DOS system device driver "Auxiliary device",
and has a history back to DOS 2.1, see this MS Knowledge Base article:

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=74496

Best regards

Bjorn

Jeff Patterson [MSFT] · Oct 31, 2003

Rich,

You can also reference the following article:

100108 Overview of FAT, HPFS, and NTFS File Systems
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=100108

Jeff Patterson
Microsoft Support

Cannot create new folder with the name <aux>

Rich Cz

Bjorn Landemoo

Jeff Patterson [MSFT]