Deleting Files With Reserved Names
Last Updated: 04 Nov 2003
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*** PLEASE NOTE: Link(s), If Provided, May Be Wrapped ***
• http://support.microsoft.com/?KBID=120716
• http://support.microsoft.com/?KBID=320081
• http://www.winnetmag.com/windowsnt20002003faq/Article/ArticleID/14572/windowsnt20002003faq_14572.html
• http://is-it-true.org/nt/atips/atips156.shtml
• http://www.jsiinc.com/subf/tip2900/rh2970.htm
If the file was created on a file allocation table (FAT)
partition, you may be able to delete it under MS-DOS
using standard command line utilities (such as DEL) with
wildcards. For example:
DEL PR?.*
-or-
DEL LPT?.*
These commands do not work on an NTFS partition as NTFS
supports the POSIX subsystem and filenames such as PRN
are legal under this subsystem. However, the operating
system assumes the application that created them can
also delete them; therefore, you can use commands native
to the POSIX subsystem.
You can delete (unlink) these files using a simple, native
POSIX application. For example, the Windows NT Resource Kit
includes such a utility, Rm.exe.
NOTE: The Rm.exe utility is case sensitive.
Another option is to use a syntax that bypasses the normal
reserve-word checks altogether. For example, you can possibly
delete any file with a command such as:
DEL \\.\:\\
For example:
DEL \\.\c:\somedir\aux
PERSONAL NOTES
• RM is available in the NT/2000 Resource Kit, or from
various Unix ports.
