Changes in dir command

Within the command prompt in Windows Vista, the dir command now shows
non-zero byte counts for folders. This is a change from prior versions of
Windows such that now, the output from the "dir" command does not match
right-click, Properties from Windows Explorer in terms of total bytes for a
folder (including subfolders). Is there any way to change the behavior of
the "dir" command to report 0 bytes for folders?

I need to clarify that these differences in the "dir" command appear to occur
when obtaining the directory of a CD or DVD. Folders still report zero bytes
within "dir" commands run on hard drives or network drives.

"Michael J. Thurgood" wrote:

> Within the command prompt in Windows Vista, the dir command now shows
> non-zero byte counts for folders. This is a change from prior versions of
> Windows such that now, the output from the "dir" command does not match
> right-click, Properties from Windows Explorer in terms of total bytes for a
> folder (including subfolders). Is there any way to change the behavior of
> the "dir" command to report 0 bytes for folders?

You may find a hidden file named desktop.ini in those folders. The autorun
feature writes it.
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Mark L. Ferguson
..

"Michael J. Thurgood" <> wrote in
message news:1ADB0103-5877-4B69-9EC3-...
> I need to clarify that these differences in the "dir" command appear to
> occur
> when obtaining the directory of a CD or DVD. Folders still report zero
> bytes
> within "dir" commands run on hard drives or network drives.
>
> "Michael J. Thurgood" wrote:
>
>> Within the command prompt in Windows Vista, the dir command now shows
>> non-zero byte counts for folders. This is a change from prior versions
>> of
>> Windows such that now, the output from the "dir" command does not match
>> right-click, Properties from Windows Explorer in terms of total bytes for
>> a
>> folder (including subfolders). Is there any way to change the behavior
>> of
>> the "dir" command to report 0 bytes for folders?

I don't think a hidden desktop.ini explains the difference. I use the
following command to create a directory of archived data on CD / DVD for
later searching:
dir /w /s /A /OGN > [filename]

I believe using this syntax, all types of files should be included in the
directory output, including system and hidden files.

Here's an example output:
=======================================
Directory of F:\PDF_120605

02/07/2007 01:03 PM <DIR> .
02/07/2007 01:03 PM <DIR> ..
12/06/2005 05:20 PM 799,804 Figure-1.pdf
1 File(s) 801,288 bytes
=======================================

Though the folder only has one file, the total bytes for the folder is
larger than the bytes for the file, so bytes for the . and .. folders is
being included.

Here is an example from an empty folder:

=======================================
Directory of F:\Projects\Modeling

02/07/2007 12:45 PM <DIR> .
02/07/2007 12:48 PM <DIR> ..
0 File(s) 1,060 bytes
=======================================

"Mark L. Ferguson" wrote:

> You may find a hidden file named desktop.ini in those folders. The autorun
> feature writes it.
> --
> Was this helpful? Then click the Ratings button. Voting helps the web
> interface.
> http://www.microsoft.com/wn3/locales...eAPostAsAnswer
> Mark L. Ferguson
> .

Michael J. Thurgood wrote:
> I don't think a hidden desktop.ini explains the difference. I use the
> following command to create a directory of archived data on CD / DVD for
> later searching:
> dir /w /s /A /OGN > [filename]
>
> I believe using this syntax, all types of files should be included in the
> directory output, including system and hidden files.
>
> Here's an example output:
> =======================================
> Directory of F:\PDF_120605
>
> 02/07/2007 01:03 PM <DIR> .
> 02/07/2007 01:03 PM <DIR> ..
> 12/06/2005 05:20 PM 799,804 Figure-1.pdf
> 1 File(s) 801,288 bytes
> =======================================
>
> Though the folder only has one file, the total bytes for the folder is
> larger than the bytes for the file, so bytes for the . and .. folders is
> being included.
>
> Here is an example from an empty folder:
>
> =======================================
> Directory of F:\Projects\Modeling
>
> 02/07/2007 12:45 PM <DIR> .
> 02/07/2007 12:48 PM <DIR> ..
> 0 File(s) 1,060 bytes
> =======================================
>
> "Mark L. Ferguson" wrote:
>
>> You may find a hidden file named desktop.ini in those folders. The autorun
>> feature writes it.
>> --
>> Was this helpful? Then click the Ratings button. Voting helps the web
>> interface.
>> http://www.microsoft.com/wn3/locales...eAPostAsAnswer
>> Mark L. Ferguson
>> .
>
I think the space might be for the file system itself. Record a CD or
DVD with no files on it and see how much space is taken up.

Jim