Error Message: Filename is Invalid or Cannot Contain Any of the Following Characters (177506)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 95
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98
  • Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
This article was previously published under Q177506

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to create, save, or rename a file, folder, or shortcut, you may receive one of the following error messages:
A filename cannot contain any of the following characters:

\ / : * ? " < > |

or

path\filename
This filename is not valid.

or

path\filename
The above file name is invalid.

CAUSE

The characters listed in the first error message in the Symptoms section cannot be used in file, folder, or shortcut names.

RESOLUTION

To create, save, or rename a file, folder, or shortcut, use a valid character that is not listed in the first error message listed in the Symptoms section of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

You can rename the system desktop icons (such as My Computer, My Documents, Internet Explorer, and Network Neighborhood) using the invalid characters. The icons are system objects and do not follow the same naming convention as files, folders, and shortcuts.

The TAB key is accepted in the names of these system icons, but the tab is displayed as a space.

Characters that are valid for naming files, folders, or shortcuts include any combination of letters (A-Z) and numbers (0-9), plus the following special characters: 
   ^   Accent circumflex (caret)
   &   Ampersand
   '   Apostrophe (single quotation mark)
   @   At sign
   {   Brace left
   }   Brace right
   [   Bracket opening
   ]   Bracket closing
   ,   Comma
   $   Dollar sign
   =   Equal sign
   !   Exclamation point
   -   Hyphen
   #   Number sign
   (   Parenthesis opening
   )   Parenthesis closing
   %   Percent
   .   Period
   +   Plus
   ~   Tilde
   _   Underscore
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:12/16/2004
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb kbui KB177506
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