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General discussion

File Name Too Long BUT Accepted

Dec 1, 2003 1:51PM PST

I added a favorite website to my Favorites and it was accepted. Now when I try to display it it is grayed out and unresponsive.
If I attempt to re-add it I get "The Name You Entered For Favorite Is Too Long."
If I go into Explorer and go to that file and right click it I do not get the usual drop down menu allowing me to delete it.
Am I stuck with this file forever?

Discussion is locked

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Re:File Name Too Long BUT Accepted
Dec 1, 2003 8:42PM PST

"If I go into Explorer and go to that file and right click it I do not get the usual drop down menu allowing me to delete it."

If I click once on a file in Explorer, it's highlighted. To delete, I could use your method or just press the DELETE key.

Bob

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Re:Re:File Name Too Long BUT Accepted
Dec 8, 2003 12:32AM PST

Bob...I've tried that. It will work with any other listed file but not with this one. It is as though it does not exist.

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No DOS knowledge required. The command line.
Dec 8, 2003 12:41AM PST

If I find a file that Explorer doesn't work with, I use my other file browser such as Gyula's Navigator. If that fails I have two more tools in ascending skill levels.

1. The command line.

Open a command window, CD to the directory in question, type COMMAND to get the old DOS style filenames. Type DIR to get a listing and you'll see the old 8.3 name of the file. DEL that name.

2. The Recovery Console.

I have yet to not be able to delete a file using the Recovery Console. This is a little more work. Here's the pictures -> http://www.lpt.com/windowsnetworking/regusers/wxprcons.htm shows this tool. I can delete ANY file I want with this one.

IN CLOSING. Some KAZAA or other P2P users will find out later what danger awaits them as they can't delete files or worms invade their system. You haven't shared if you installed such, but some of these pleas for help echoes your request.

Bob

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Re:No DOS knowledge required. The command line.
Dec 13, 2003 1:27AM PST

Thanks R. Proffitt!
I used an old version of Norton's File Manager and was able to shorten the file name there and then delete it.
Thanks very much

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Re:File Name Too Long BUT Accepted
Dec 8, 2003 2:02AM PST

1. DiamondCS DelLater is a simple program that uses the only method that Microsoft recommend to delete files that are in use. This method is based on documentation from Microsoft that describes a function called MoveFileEx, and DelLater has been carefully designed to be technically accurate to the guidelines set forth in the article. Interestingly, this is the technique used by anti-virus scanners when they're unable to delete a file (such as a trojan) because it's in use. Although the MoveFileEx function isn't supported under Windows 95/98/ME, the article does describe how to implement the same functionality, which DelLater does. Don't worry if you don't understand the Microsoft article as DelLater simplifies everything.

2. DelLater is the ideal program to use when you can't delete a file, no matter how hard you try. This is usually because an active process has an open handle to the file which prevents it from being deleted. Normally if you close down all running programs you'll find that most files will then be free to delete, but that's not always the case, and in some cases it may even be a trojan that's preventing itself from being deleted.

3. To DelLater A File...

a. Run dellater.exe <filename>

b. Reboot (whenever you like).