How modify win explorer's limit of Win API (max_path = 260 signs) ?


  1. Posts : 17
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit
       #1

    How modify win explorer's limit of Win API (max_path = 260 signs) ?


    When I was copying files to external HDD as backup, I faced error of long file paths. I was unable to copy them.
    Both (my pc and external HDD) has NTFS file system. So it's clearly problem of that explorer.

    How may I modify or patch it please ?
    I plan to do sync backup of my data every week, so I don't know what I will do.

    Thank you !
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 7,351
    Windows 7 HP 64
       #2

    If the original path is very long, when you copy it it can add some more due to the backup location.
    For what i know, this is a OS limitation.
    I have seen MS Word files that has the fist paragraph as a name. Only the file name was so big...
    My suggestion is to modify the source folders names. Make them short as possible.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 17
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    I can't do more, it needs to be sorted how it is.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 2,497
    Windows 7 Pro 64 bit
       #4

    Changing MAX_PATH or otherwise modifying Windows Explorer is not an option. MAX_PATH is defined as 260 characters and is used throughout Windows. Microsoft could change it but if it were that simple it would have been done years ago. The problem is that since the early days of of the Win32 platform applications have assumed that a path could be no longer than 260 characters and if presented with a longer one would crash or corrupt data.

    I believe there are command line utilities that can copy files with a longer path but you will not be able to do this with Windows Explorer.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 7,351
    Windows 7 HP 64
       #5

    Don't know the reasons why it needs to be sorted how it is, but if you don't change the long names, you'll have more problems.
    I suggest you to rename the long folders names and files to a smaller names.
    Free commander is a very good file manager https://www.fosshub.com/FreeCommande...blic_setup.zip
    With it you can rename all files keeping the fist n characters, keeping the extension.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 318
    Windows 10 x64
       #6

    I've run into that problem, too. The 260 limit is silly. I had Unix systems twenty years ago that could handle 1024.
      My Computer


 

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