KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q81347: Windows Err Msg: File Already Exists. Overwrite? (File Mgr)

Article: Q81347
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 05-NOV-1999

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows versions 3.0, 3.0a 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

When you try to rename or copy files from Microsoft Windows File Manager, and
you use a wild card as the extension (for example, XXX.*), the following error
message is displayed:

  File already Exists. Overwrite?

WORKAROUND
==========

Rename or copy the files from MS-DOS.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows versions 3.0 and 3.0a.
This problem was corrected and does not occur in later Windows versions.

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

Renaming or copying a specified file or group of files with a wild card
extension, while changing the base or prefix name, should be possible in Windows
3.0. For example, if a specified source file is indicated as "XXX.*" (without
the quotation marks) and the destination file is specified as "YYY.*" (without
the quotation marks), every file that begins with XXX should be changed or
copied to a filename with a YYY base or prefix. However, in File Manager, this
only works if the destination base name (prefix) is one character long (for
example, Y.*).

This procedure works if executed from MS-DOS, but File Manager cannot complete
the procedure properly.

Additional query words: 3.00 winfile filemanager wildcard 3.00a winfile.exe

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWin3xSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin300 kbWin300a
Version           : WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.