also @ TechSpot: Updated Microsoft EULA prohibits class action lawsuits

TechSpot
Collaborate in the cloud with Office, Exchange, SharePoint, and Lync.
Microsoft Office 365. Pay-as-you-go starting at $8/user/month. Begin your free trial now.

Cannot copy file name is to long?

Discussion in 'Windows OS' started by ynotbme, Feb 14, 2012.

  1. ynotbme Newcomer, in training

    I am trying to get files copied from an external HD on to a new computer. It is running XP Pro 32. The copies are from a XP Pro 32. I get a box that says the file name is to long to copy file! Please tell me there is a setting or something. He has thousands of unorganized files. This thing stops cold. No matter what I do I have got to start copy process over every time it stops for the 1 file!
    Please don't tell me I have to write the file name down each time, shorten the name and restart the copy process everytime!

    HELP! Ynot
    ynotbme, Feb 14, 2012
    #1

  2. ynotbme Newcomer, in training

    I figured it out!

    OK, OK, If ever in this situation...try what I did. I copied from the external HD to the desktop. Then I moved the files into My Documents or where ever. For some reason that worked. I did have to rename one file but not 100,s or 1000,s!

    Good Luck, Ynot
    ynotbme, Feb 14, 2012
    #2

  3. jobeard TechSpot Ambassador

    Good work. What you discovered is that the list of directorty names to reach that file + the length of the file name was too big.
    By relocating to My Documents, you cut the 'path name length' significantly.
    jobeard, Feb 15, 2012
    #3