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Q71843: MS-DOS Reserved Words in File Manager’s File Search Command

Article: Q71843
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a,3.1,3.11
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 12-OCT-1999

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows versions 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11 
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SUMMARY
=======

If you search for a file in the Microsoft Windows File Manager program, using
some MS-DOS reserved words with the File Search command, File Manager finds
those reserved word in all directories because MS-DOS character devices are
defined as files in all directories. This is standard MS-DOS behavior.

Examples of MS-DOS reserved words are:

  CON   COM1 - COM4
  PRN   AUX    LPT1

MORE INFORMATION
================

MS-DOS reserved words identify devices attached to the system. The following
describes some of these devices:

  CON - The display monitor
  PRN - Default value is LPT1; this value can be changed
  AUX - Serial port 1 (COM1)

Although File Manager finds reserved words, if an attempt is made to delete any
of these reserved words by choosing Delete from the File menu, you will receive
the following error message for each reserved word, respectively:

Using Windows 3.1

  Cannot delete <path\reserved word>; access denied.

Using Windows 3.0

  Cannot delete <path\reserved word> Cannot find file; check to ensure
  the path and filename are correct.

An exception is "CON," which produces a different error message:

  Cannot delete C:\CON: Access denied

Additional query words: 3.00 3.00a 3.0 3.1 3.10 err msg 3.11

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWin3xSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin300 kbWin300a kbWin310 kbWin311
Version           : WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a,3.1,3.11

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