Copying Files with Long Filenames to FAT Partitions (119524)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1
This article was previously published under Q119524
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SUMMARY

Windows NT supports the use of long filenames on NTFS partitions and allows you to copy these files to FAT partitions, which do not support long filenames. This article describes the procedure to copy files with long names to the FAT partition from a command prompt.

MORE INFORMATION

When you copy a file from an NTFS partition to a FAT partition using File Manager, Windows NT automatically converts the name of the file to a format that is legal under FAT conventions. This does not occur when you copy files from the command prompt.

If you attempt to copy a file with a long name to a FAT partition from a command prompt, one of the following error messages appear:

  • The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.

    -or-
  • File creation error - The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.
To copy a file with a long filename to a FAT partition without receiving one of these errors:

  1. Use File Manager to copy the files.
  2. Use the COPY command at a command prompt to rename the file to a valid FAT filename in the copy process. For example, to copy a file by the name of "This is a LONGFILE.BAT" to C:\TEST the following command could be used:

    COPY "This is a long file" C:\TEST\LONGFILE.BAT

    Note that files with long filenames or spaces in the name need to be enclosed in quotation marks.

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/20/2003
Keywords:KB119524
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.