Maximum filename and path length? - on HD and burning discs

What is the maximum filename and path length, and is it the same on your computer's hard drive, an external hard drive, and burning files onto 4.7 Gb disks? I'm pretty sure it's shorter for burning discs.

Does it matter how deeply the folders are nested? For example it would be forbidden to have folders with 5-character names nested 6 folders deep but would be fine if they had 10-character names nested 3 folders deep.

And finally is there one overall limit which applies to the combined filename and folder path all together, or do filenames and paths have their own separate limits?

Thanks, very helpful.

MilesAhead said:

For discs if you download Imgburn and look through the file system options when burning it gives a good idea of the maximums for various disc file systems.

I use CDBurnerXP and when I go to Disc > Change File System there are two choices: "ISO 9660 / Joliet" with a 107 character limit on "file or directory names" and UDF in various versions from 1.02 to 2.60, all with 127 character limits. Is this what you're referring to or would Imgburn do something more?

So is the file system a property of the blank discs in which case some varieties might allow longer paths? Or it's the burner? Or do you think 127 is pretty much the standard for burning in Win 7?

MilesAhead said:

HD is longer but with Windows you also have the issue that Explorer cannot handle paths longer than 260 characters... Programmatically you can manipulate files with longer paths.

When you say Explorer do you mean specifically Microsoft's Explorer, or all file managers in Windows? Because I only use a file manager called Xplorer2 and never Explorer. I can ask at their forum but figured I'd ask as long as I'm here.

It may be a moot point since I try to burn everything to recordable discs for backup which of course has the much lower character limit.