Cannot Use MS-DOS Reserved Filenames As Document Name

ID: Q94085

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

You cannot use reserved MS-DOS filenames as Word for Windows document filenames.

If you attempt to give a Word document file an MS-DOS reserved filename, the following message appears:

Word for Windows, version 2.0

   Do you want to replace existing <filename>?
If you choose the Yes button, the following error message occurs: 

   You cannot save while the file is in use by another process.
   Try saving with a new name.

Word for Windows, versions 1.x

   Do you want to replace existing <filename.doc>?
If you choose the Yes button, the following error message occurs: 

   Cannot Save. <filename.doc> is locked.

MORE INFORMATION

The following MS-DOS reserved filenames cause the above error messages in Word for Windows: 

   CLOCK$
   CON
   AUX
   COMn (where n = 1-4)
   NUL
Word for Windows allows you to save a document using the following MS-DOS reserved filenames: 

   LPTn (where n = 1-3)
   PRN
If you use these filenames, however, Word saves the file as a copy, and "(Copy)" appears in the Word title bar. If you close the file and then try to reopen it, the filename appears on file menu in the MRU (most recently used) list, but it does not appear in the File Name list in the Open dialog box. If you choose the filename from the File menu, the following error message occurs: 

   Word cannot find <path and filename>
If you save a document using LPTn or PRN as filenames and then close the file, you cannot reopen it.

Workaround

Give the file a name that is not reserved by MS-DOS.

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Word for Windows User's Guide," version 2.0, page 77

"Microsoft MS-DOS User's Guide and Reference," version 5.0, pages 69- 70

KBCategory: KBSubcategory: Additional query words: 6.0 2.0 2.0a 2.0a-CD 2.0b 2.0c winword winword2 lpt1 lpt1: lpt2 lpt2: lpt3 lpt3: com1 com1: com2 com2: word6 com3 com3: com4 com4: operating system 

Version           : 1.x 2.x 6.0 6.0a 6.0c
Platform          : WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: February 6, 1998