Unable to delete file - filename too long

  • Thread starter Thread starter Vic Baron
  • Start date Start date
V

Vic Baron

Not sure whether this is an XP or OE issue but -

have a client who had some problem with OE and it created many iterations of
a folder. When he tried to delete them he got an error - "Unable to delete -
filename too long".

He's tried safe mode, dos DEL, etc - nothing has worked.

I couldn't find anything in the MSKB - anyone have any ideas?
Thanx,

Vic
 
Path Too Long

To work around this problem, reduce the length of the path to less than 256
characters.

In Windows Explorer, select the folder one level above the folder that
returns the error. Right-click the folder returning the error and then click
Rename. Rename the folder to reduce the number of characters used in the
folder name.

Rename the folder so that the target files that are deeper than the MAX_PATH
no longer exist. If you do this, start at the root folder (or any other
convenient place), and then rename folders so that they have shorter names.

Rename subfolders in the path to a file so that the total path or file name
is less than the max_path setting or 256 characters. Start with subfolders
that are closer to the root so that you are always working with less than
256 characters.

Files exist in paths that are deeper than MAX_PATH characters
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;320081#XSLTH3159121122120121120120

from...
You cannot delete a file or a folder on an NTFS file system volume
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320081

Maybe Long Filenames Finder would be of some help also.

[[Long Filename Finder is the easiest way to find and shorten filenames that
are too long to be backed up to CD-R (or CD-RW).

Many CD-R mastering programs limit the length of the filenames that can be
stored on the CD-R. In some cases, this length is as short as 62 characters.
Your files can easily have names that exceed the limit, especially for
multimedia files such as MP3 that contain artist, album, title, track number
information. Before backing up to CD-R, you must rename all your files so
that none of the filenames exceed the limit. ]]

Long Filenames Finder
http://www.dcsoft.com/products/longff/longff.htm

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
thanx for the info - will have them try.

Wesley Vogel said:
Path Too Long

To work around this problem, reduce the length of the path to less than
256
characters.

In Windows Explorer, select the folder one level above the folder that
returns the error. Right-click the folder returning the error and then
click
Rename. Rename the folder to reduce the number of characters used in the
folder name.

Rename the folder so that the target files that are deeper than the
MAX_PATH
no longer exist. If you do this, start at the root folder (or any other
convenient place), and then rename folders so that they have shorter
names.

Rename subfolders in the path to a file so that the total path or file
name
is less than the max_path setting or 256 characters. Start with subfolders
that are closer to the root so that you are always working with less than
256 characters.

Files exist in paths that are deeper than MAX_PATH characters
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;320081#XSLTH3159121122120121120120

from...
You cannot delete a file or a folder on an NTFS file system volume
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320081

Maybe Long Filenames Finder would be of some help also.

[[Long Filename Finder is the easiest way to find and shorten filenames
that
are too long to be backed up to CD-R (or CD-RW).

Many CD-R mastering programs limit the length of the filenames that can be
stored on the CD-R. In some cases, this length is as short as 62
characters.
Your files can easily have names that exceed the limit, especially for
multimedia files such as MP3 that contain artist, album, title, track
number
information. Before backing up to CD-R, you must rename all your files so
that none of the filenames exceed the limit. ]]

Long Filenames Finder
http://www.dcsoft.com/products/longff/longff.htm

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
Hi,
I am having new problem with "filename too long"......
When i am moving folders into my 2TB harddisk, den suppose i move 700 mb of data with 717 mb remaining.....
Then dis "Filename too long" appears and I press "skip"......
Now, I rename the files in original folders, n den try to copy again, den instead of more than 17 mb remaining it shows 2mb remaining......
I check my harddisk and remove folders with same name as in original folders......
still 2mb remaining......
Can't copy files....:(
Puzzled, plz help......
 
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