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Knowledge Base

Filenames with Trailing Periods Not Found

Article ID: 105359

Article Last Modified on 10/31/2006

APPLIES TO

Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1

This article was previously published under Q105359

SYMPTOMS

When you try to move, delete, copy, or rename a file whose name contains a trailing period (such as README.), you will receive one of the following error messages.

If you are using File Manager:

File Manager cannot move <filename and path>: The system cannot find the file specified. Make sure the correct path and filename are specified and the network is started.

If you are at a command prompt:

The system cannot find the file specified file.

   -or-

Could not Find <filename and path>.

CAUSE

Windows NT cannot handle filenames with trailing periods. The only known way that Windows NT allows a file to have a trailing period is if the file was named/created by a Macintosh. In this case, the Windows NT Advanced Server must be running, or has run, Services for the Macintosh.

Macintosh users can name a file with a trailing period. That file may then be copied to Windows NT Advanced Server, but Windows NT Advanced Server will not remove the period, nor will the name translation process to 8.3 take care of the problem.

WORKAROUND

The file should be renamed from a Macintosh, so that it does not contain a trailing period.

To resolve this problem, upgrade to Windows NT Server version 3.5.

STATUS

This problem was corrected in Windows NT Server version 3.5.

Additional query words: prodnt

Keywords: kbinterop KB105359

Microsoft KB Archive/105359

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