Why is it not possible to rename a file/folder as CON in Win XP?

Answer 1

they are special file names which are reserved by the system and cannot be used for files or folders. The other similar names are COM1, COM2, COM3, COM4, LPT1, LPT2, LPT3, PRN .

MS-DOS device names are reserved words and cannot be used as folder or file names. When parsing a reference to a file or folder, Windows correctly checks for the case in which a single MS-DOS device name is used in the path, and treats it as invalid. However, Windows does not check for the case in which the path includes multiple MS-DOS device names. When Windows attempts to interpret the device name as a file resource, it performs an illegal resource access operation that usually results in the computer becoming unresponsive.

Because you cannot create files or folders that contain MS-DOS device names, it is unusual for a user to try to gain access to one under normal circumstances. The chief threat posed by this vulnerability is that a malicious user can entice a user to attempt such an access. For example, if a Web site operator hosts a hyperlink that references such a path, when the user clicks the link, the computer may hang. Likewise, a Web page or HTML e-mail message that specifies a local file as the source of rendering information can cause the user’s computer to hang when it is displayed. If this happens, you can put the computer back into normal service by restarting it.

Now… what if I say… you CAN create a folder or directory with the above names??

STEP1: goto command prompt

Note: Do not give spaces between two “\” in the following commands , I had to do it because wordpress was not allowing two backslash together, showing one.

STEP2: type in prompt (any valid drivename):\> “mkdir \ \ .\(your drivename):\con” — this will fool windows and create a folder named CON in the mentioned drive

STEP3: verify by typing “dir \ \ .\(your drivename):\con” — you can even manually navigate to the mentioned drive and see the folder does exist

STEP4: delete the file or folder “rmdir \ \ .\(your drivename):\con”

Answer 2

CON is reserved. In DOS if you wanted to view a file on your screen you did COPY file.txt CON and it scrolled the file on the CON or CONSOLE. It probably remained reserved since back in the old days of DOS.

Try ~CON or CONS, if you are naming folders PROS and CONS

Answer 3

CON is an operating system call for console.

Answer 4

use a zero to replace the "O"

"C0N"