deleting files where the filename is too long

Hi,

How do I delete a file where the filename is too long?

If I try to delete it by highlighting it & pushing the delete button, I get
this error message:

The source file name(s) are larger than is supported by the file system.
Try moving to a location that has a shorter path name or try renaming to a
shorter name(s) before attempting this operation.

If I try deleting in a DOS box (rd /s/q) then I get "Filename is too long."

XP just lets me delete the files. I don't want to have to rename 3000+ files
just to delete them!!

Thanks.

-JB

 

It's funny that XP lets you delete the files and Vista doesn't, since Both
Vista and XP use NTFS, with a limitation of 255 chars per filename, if I'm
not mistaken... I think the problem might be another, but anyway...

If you just want to delete the files, you can bulk rename your files by
selecting them all, right clicking the first file and renaming it. All other
files will be automatically renamed too. I suppose you can just delete the
files after that...

Hope it helps,
--Malu



"Cool Dude" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Hi,
>
> How do I delete a file where the filename is too long?
>
> If I try to delete it by highlighting it & pushing the delete button, I
> get this error message:
>
> The source file name(s) are larger than is supported by the file system.
> Try moving to a location that has a shorter path name or try renaming to a
> shorter name(s) before attempting this operation.
>
> If I try deleting in a DOS box (rd /s/q) then I get "Filename is too
> long."
>
> XP just lets me delete the files. I don't want to have to rename 3000+
> files just to delete them!!
>
> Thanks.
>
> -JB

 

Ever tried 'Unlocker'?
> http://download.cnet.com/Unlocker/3000-2248_4-10493998.html

Right clicking a file won't help, but you can right-click the folder
it's in.
You might be able to delete it right away, otherwise use 'Unlock',
choose 'action' 'delete'.
Folder with filename too long will be gone.
Restore folder if you want to.
bhe
===========


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bhesper <> wrote in
news::

>
> Ever tried 'Unlocker'?
>> http://download.cnet.com/Unlocker/3000-2248_4-10493998.html
>
> Right clicking a file won't help, but you can right-click the folder
> it's in.
> You might be able to delete it right away, otherwise use 'Unlock',
> choose 'action' 'delete'.
> Folder with filename too long will be gone.
> Restore folder if you want to.
> bhe
> ===========
>
>

you could also rum cmd.exe and type cd foldername where the file resides
and type del *.ext where ext is the extension name ie: del *.bmp assuming
this is the only file that resides in that folder if not type del *.e.ext
if the last letter is an e and no other file has an e before the period

 

If renaming or simplifying the file names is not an options since you said you have 3,000+ files then i think the best thing to do is to use a third party app like Long Path Tool. Maybe this will help you solve this issue.