DOCUMENT:Q119524 08-AUG-2001 [winnt] TITLE :Copying Files with Long Filenames to FAT Partitions PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER: OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== 3.10 WINDOWS kbother ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Server version 3.1 - Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 3.1 - Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server, version 3.1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. Additional query words: lfn prodnt 3.10 ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW310 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS310 kbWinNTAdvSerSearch kbWinNTAdvServ310 kbWinNTS310search kbWinNT310Search kbWinNTW310Search ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.