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Q135604: DIR /O:N /S Does Not Sort Directory Names in Alphanumeric Order

Article: Q135604
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): 3.5 3.51 4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbother
Last Modified: 02-FEB-2002

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0 
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SYMPTOM
-------

When you run the DIR /O:N /S command at a Windows NT command prompt to list
directory names in ascending alphanumeric order, the directory names that
contain one or more numbers are listed after, instead of before, the names
containing only letters.

This problem occurs only with directory name listings; program and data
files are listed in the correct order.

Example
-------

Your C drive has the following directories:

  C:\WIN32
  C:\WINDOWS
  C:\444

You issue the DIR /O:N /S command and the output appears in the following
incorrect sort order:

  C:\WINDOWS
  C:\WIN32
  C:\444

The directories should be listed in the following order:

  C:\444 C:\WIN32 C:\WINDOWS

CAUSE
=====

The directories are located on a Windows NT partition using the file allocation
table (FAT) file system.

WORKAROUND
==========

To work around this problem, convert your FAT partition to use the Windows NT
file system (NTFS).

To convert your FAT partition to NTFS use the Windows NT CONVERT.EXE utility
program. To get help on CONVERT.EXE, type the following at a Windows NT command
prompt:

  convert /?

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 3.51. We are
researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

Additional query words: prodnt vdm sort

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Keywords          : kbother 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT351search kbWinNT350search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTW350 kbWinNTW350search kbWinNTW351search kbWinNTW351 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbWinNTS351 kbWinNTS350 kbWinNTS351search kbWinNTS350search
Version           : 3.5 3.51 4.0

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