XADM: You Recieve an Error Message When You Create or Move a Folder That Is Named "." or ".." in Exchange 2000 Server (811817)

SYMPTOMS

When you use Microsoft Outlook or Extended Messaging Application Program Interface (MAPI) to connect the client to Exchange 2000 Server, you may receive the following error messages:

When you try to create a new folder with the name "." or ".." or "..." and so on, you receive the error message:
Unable to create the folder.
When you try to move, delete or copy a folder that has the name "." or ".." and so on, you receive the following error message:
The operation failed.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because Exchange Installable File System (ExIFS) treats "." and ".." as special characters, and you cannot create folders that have names that contain these characters.

RESOLUTION

To resolve the first problem mentioned in the "Symptoms" section, create a folder that has a name that uses any other character. Then rename the folder to "." or ".." and so on. When you rename the folder, ExIFS renames this folder as "[.]" for "." and "[.]1" for "..". The folder name in Microsoft Outlook or Extended MAPI continues to appear as "." or "..".

To resolve the second problem mentioned in the "Symptoms" section, rename the folder from "." or ".." and so on to "[.]" or "[..]" and so on. Then try to move, delete or copy the folder.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.