Error "the file name you specified is not valid or too long-how to delete"

[chandimalin]

Dear All,

On my server, On d:\ drive there is a folder <folder name>. when I deleting that folder error is coming like this "the file name you specified is not valid or too long-how to delete". So pls help me to delete this folder

Thanx
Chandimal

[Simond]

Well, is the filename is minimum in length and if not then try to do it once. If it is already the minimum length, you need to reduce the length of the PATHNAME. Share a folder close to the file, map a drive to it from another machine, and copy the file from there. After that try to delete the folder and check if that works out.

[jesse]

You might have already known that deleting the file doesnt work so the best option is to rename it. You can try to rename directories or the file name to make the total count below the character limit. It can be easily done in Windows Explorer or with command line. You just have to choose a folder and then rename it to a single character and then do the same thing until the file path length has dropped accordingly.

[MrChris-]

If the files that you are having problem with has characters from another language which cannot be read by your pc then you are suppose to get this kind of error message. Also make sure that the total path length is not more than 255 characters, if so then try to rename some of the folders to some smaller names. Or else just use the command prompt to delete the files.