Can not create a "con" folder.
No idea why, but for some reason if you try to create a folder called "con" Windows doesn't allow it. Must be a bug or something. I tried this in Windows XP Home SP1, not sure if this issue exists in other versions of Windows.
posted @ 8:56 AM
[15] Windows Users
15 Comments:
con is actually short for "console". So this is not a bug, for instance type "copy con" in a dos prompt , this is the most basic editor you have ever seen ;). (Ctrl-C, or Ctrl-Z to exit)
Can't be done in XP SP2, either. Learned that way back ago when I tried to move some con pictures into a folder called "con". No joy.
I like your blog. I will link it because maybe you can provide me with some info next time my stupid laptop acts up on me again.
God. I have no idea why people put up with Windoze crap. Just buy a Mac.
What an awesome blog! I used to be really addicted to this board called "Screensavers" and "Call For Help"....did you ever watch those TV shows,by the way(same name as the boards of course)??I was so mad when they took them off and renamed the channel G-4(gaming type programs).I learned a ton of stuff when I bought my first computer 5 years ago because of the really nice people like you.People that were willing to take the time to reach out and help a person in distress.I was just flippin' through other blogs and landed here....hope you don't mind me adding you to my faves.
You really do have a neat-o blog!
you also can't make folders named COM1-9 (COM1,COM2,COM3...) go figure.
That is soo weird, I'm surprsied no one has picked up on it before though...
Win-98 won't let me make a folder called "con" either.
Yeah, the basics are already here. There are actually several names that are reserved, that you would not be able to use.
CON
COM1 thru COM9
LPT1 thru LPT9
CTTY
Look in your documentation or on the windows support website and search for "Reserved Names" for a complete list, but basically any name that refers to a physical part of the computer would be reserved. I also believe that if you try to create folders called COM or EXE you will have a problem.
Most of this goes back to the early days of DOS, and some of the physical limitations that were built in because of the processors they worked on.
My absolute favorite of all time is the hardwired error during POST
"Keyboard Not Attached, Press F1 To Continue."
Need we say more?...
You can't make a folder or file with a name starting with "." (a dot). At least, not from within Windows. You can make it in another operating system (on a windows file system) or even in Msys or other *nix ports. Windows can handle it just fine once it is created, however.
"con" is completely different. Msys shows that the file already exists. It is very similar to a unix device file, but without the virtual filesystem, there's nowhere to put it, so it exists in every directory. It's a pretty lame design.
Why does Microsoft obscure such features from the common user?
I found a bug in Windows98 dealing with certain characters and the differences in the DOS and Windows character set. You could create a file with a non-alphanumeric character such as the full block (ASCII 219 - Alt+219 on the number pad). You could make and open this file at a DOS prompt or DOS program like MS edit just fine. In windows it would show up with the strange characters replaced with underscores. If you tried to move it or open it, it would say that the file does not exist. If you open it with notepad, notepad would say that it doesn't exist and create it for you - with an actual underscore instead of the strange character. Now both will show up in windows with what appears to be the exact same filename - clicking either will open the windows one (with the actual underscore). I discovered some other facet of this bug dealing with Edit and reversing the effect so that you could open a file in Windows, but not DOS or something - but I've forgotten it since it's been a few years since I've used Win98 much.
The "Keyboard Not Attached, Press F1 to Continue." error is not ironic in any way. It is also not connected to Microsoft in any way. This is a BIOS POST error. It comes from the software hardwired into the motherboard, not the operating system.
In most BIOS implementations, you can connect a keyboard and press F1 and the system will continue to boot as normal. I have done this countless times.
"con" doesn't work on Windows ME or Windows XP Pro
Great blog, by the way.
That is to say, you can't create a folder named con.
I disagree (with Speed42) that people should get a mac instead of windows because the problems associated with it. You can do so much more with windows and im sure this "con" issue doesn't really affect anyone! But still, it's quite funny!
Fantastic blog mate!
is that so? how about this command?
md\\.\c:\con
then browse C:\ you can find your CON FOLDER there. :)
Yeah, try getting RID of the DAM folder after... Glad I didn't do it on my "C" drive like you suggested.
I ended up "quick-formatting" my flash drive to get rid of the friggin thing. Don't suggest something like this UNLESS you WARN people!
JB
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