Creating A Folder Named "CON"; Can It Be Done?

Mulsiphix · 13 Apr 2016

I have a game. Part of its functionality is to download image files that it places into folders. One of the folder created by the game is named "CON". As far as I understand it, CON is a system reserved name and can never be used. I found a workaround someone put on a webpage. But the folder created this way can only be deleted through the Windows Command Line. The folder created by my game can be deleted in Windows Explorer like normal.

So my question is, how is this game able to create a folder named CON? More importantly, how can I do this in a way that I can delete the folder in Windows Explorer like any other folder?

UPDATE (Read First)
I've made a mistake. The folder has a Alt+0160 or Alt+255 character at the end of CON

. Sorry guys

.

Pyprohly · 14 Apr 2016

Hey Mulsiphix,

It is still possible to create a folder with a device name. You may do this via Command Prompt's rd command by specifying a path name for the device folder while prefixing it with "\\.\" to access the Win32 device namespace.

E.g.

Code:

C:\Users\Pyprohly>md \\.\C:\Users\Pyprohly\con
 
C:\Users\Pyprohly>copy nul \\.\C:\Users\Pyprohly\con\newfile.txt
        1 file(s) copied.
 
C:\Users\Pyprohly>dir \\.\C:\Users\Pyprohly\con /b
newfile.txt
 
C:\Users\Pyprohly>rd \\.\C:\Users\Pyprohly\con /s /q

These device folders have strange behaviours and cannot be removed through Windows Explorer.

Mulsiphix · 14 Apr 2016

That is cool to know. Unfortunately, I needed to create this for a project I plan on sharing with others. So if it isn't a normal behaving folder, it would be too problematic. Thank you. I appreciate the information

cornemuse · 15 Apr 2016

Try "alt0160" before CON (hold down 'alt' while typing 0160, then C, O, N), <- invisible charactor, shows " CON" also, 'goes to the top of the list'.

Is this what you want??

-c-

Mulsiphix · 15 Apr 2016

Mulsiphix said:

UPDATE (Read First)
I've made a mistake. The folder has a Alt+0160 or Alt+255 character at the end of CON

. Sorry guys

.

Unfortunately not. I need it to be alphabetized properly in a sea of other folders in the same directory. Thank you though

.

Ztruker · 16 Apr 2016

Why would a game require a folder that is the same as a system device?

Why not ask the maker of the game to fix the problem?

Mulsiphix · 16 Apr 2016

The game is a card game and it uses three letter abbreviations for different card expansions. CON is a real world code for the expansion and so it was using that. It is open source and programmed in Java. It is possible that the developer doesn't use Windows natively *shrug*. But I have contracted the developers and let them know *fingers crossed*.