"Duplicate Filename or File In Use" Error Message When You Rename a File in MS-DOS (825412)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Connectix Virtual PC for Mac version 5.0
  • Connectix Virtual PC for Mac version 6.0
  • Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac version 6.1
  • Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac version 6.1 Upgrade
  • Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac version 6.1 with Microsoft Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac version 6.1 with Microsoft Windows XP Home
  • Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac version 6.1 with Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Connectix Virtual PC for Windows version 4.0
  • Connectix Virtual PC for Windows version 4.1
  • Connectix Virtual PC for Windows version 4.2
  • Connectix Virtual PC for Windows version 4.3
  • Connectix Virtual PC for Windows version 5.0
  • Connectix Virtual PC for Windows version 5.1
  • Connectix Virtual PC for Windows version 5.2
  • Microsoft Virtual PC 2004

SYMPTOMS

In an MS-DOS virtual machine, when you use the REN command to rename a file by using a different case, you may receive the following error message:
Duplicate filename or file in use
For example, you receive the error message when you try to rename a "TEST.TXT" file to "test.txt," by using the following command: Ren TEST.txt test.txt

Note In this error message, the word "filename" is a misspelling for the words "file name."

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because file names are not case-sensitive in MS-DOS. When you use lowercase letters in a file name, the letters are automatically converted to uppercase. Therefore, you cannot rename TEST.TXT to test.txt.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:2/8/2005
Keywords:KB825412 kbAudEndUser
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