Windows Explorer Incorrectly Sorts Files and Folders with 10 or More Consecutive Numerals (318872)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Version 2002
This article was previously published under Q318872

SYMPTOMS

Files and folders whose names contain 10 or more consecutive numerals are not sorted correctly in Windows Explorer. For example, assume that you have folders with these names:

1111111111
2222222222
3333333333
4444444444
5555555555

In Windows Explorer, these folder names may be sorted as:

2222222222
3333333333
4444444444
1111111111
5555555555

Note By default, Windowx XP sorts numerals in strings that are contained in file and folder names according to their numeric value. For additional information about sort order in Windows XP, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

319827 The Sort Order for Files and Folders Whose Names Contain Numerals Is Different in Windows XP Than It Is in Windows 2000

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows XP. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322389 How to Obtain the Latest Windows XP Service Pack

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was first corrected in Windows XP Service Pack 1.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:9/27/2005
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbbug kbfix kbshell kbWinXPsp1fix KB318872
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.