File Manager Cannot Modify File/Directory Names Containing "?" (103698)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows 3.11
  • Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.11
This article was previously published under Q103698

SUMMARY

Microsoft Windows File Manager is unable to make any modifications (rename, change attributes, delete, move, and so forth) to a file or directory name that has a question mark (?) as the first character.

NOTE: Microsoft Undelete for Windows, which ships with MS-DOS 6.0 inserts a question mark for the first letter of an undeleted file if no letter is given. This problem was corrected in MS-DOS version 6.2 and later.

WORKAROUND

You can rename or delete these files from an MS-DOS command prompt in Windows. (For more information on the REN and DEL commands, refer to your "Microsoft MS-DOS User's Guide.")

If you use Microsoft Undelete for Windows and a directory name has a ? as the first character, do one of the following:

  • Use a third-party disk editor to rename the directory.
  • Format the drive to remove the directory name.
  • Run the ScanDisk utility (which ships with MS-DOS 6.2). ScanDisk locates these directory names and makes them valid directories when all is complete.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:12/5/2003
Keywords:KB103698
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.