Microsoft KB Archive/124244

= Using Quotes with DEL may Delete Wrong Directory Files =

Article ID: 124244

Article Last Modified on 10/31/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.5
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.5

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This article was previously published under Q124244



SYMPTOMS
If you surround the path with quotes when using the DEL command, DEL attempts to delete the files in the directory above the path you specify. For example, if you type

  del "c:\directory1\directory2"

DEL responds with:

  c:\directory1\*, Are you sure (y/n)?

If you type Y, all the files will be deleted in the directory displayed in the warning prompt.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 3.5. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.



WORKAROUND
If you use the wildcard character or asterisk (*), this problem will not occur. For example, if you type

  del "c:\directory1\directory2\*"

DEL responds with:

  c:\directory1\directory2\*, Are you sure (y/n)?

Additional query words: prodnt lfn long file name filename

Keywords: KB124244

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