we cant create a folder named "con" in windows?

Answer 1

These are reserved names.

CON, PRN, AUX, CLOCK$, NUL, COM1, COM2, COM3, COM4, COM5, COM6, COM7, COM8,
COM9, LPT1, LPT2, LPT3, LPT4, LPT5, LPT6, LPT7, LPT8, and LPT9.

This has been part of windows platform since DOS.. Can't not be edit or changed.....



gazy...

Answer 2

Firstly, 'con' is a reserved word used in windows because of which windows does not allow the use of (cause not only can u not create a folder named 'con' but also any file). This is also true for the following...
PRN, AUX, CLOCK$, NUL, COM1, COM2, COM3, COM4, COM5, COM6, COM7, COM8, COM9, LPT1, LPT2, LPT3, LPT4, LPT5, LPT6, LPT7, LPT8, and LPT9
some of which are port names(like com-communications port, lpt - printer port, nul-the null device etc... i dont know what con stands for). U can try the same with them.
CON stands for console.

Secondly, a folder named 'con' can be created in windows. Want to know how....
Yes it is possible by using dos. Follow the steps....
1)go to command prompt
2)if you want to create a con named folder in c: drive then type the following comand...
'mkdir \\.\c:\con' (without the quotes)
3)once you create this folder you will be able to see it in windows. but again you cannot delete it through windows.for that you will again have to use dos...
'rmdir \\.c:\con' (again without the quotes)

See CON is a reserved word for Console. which is used to refer to a default input/output device i.e the keyboard or monitor....
For example, if you have ever worked in dos, to create a new file say file1.txt you would use the command "copy con file1.txt". which means copy from keyboard to file1.txt. to quit and save you have to hit ^Z.
Now suppose there is a folder named 'CON'... what would the command "copy con file1.txt" or "copy con c:\folder\" mean. it could mean copy the folder to that location. that's one reason why such reserved words cannot be used in folder or file names.

But there is one problem with these reserved words. if you try to access any path, let it be a simple dir listing or opening or reading a file, and that path contains two such reserved words, it will cause the machine to crash. this has been found on win95 and win98. i dont think that win 200, nt or xp are affected.
Another serious problem is that this problem also arises if the path does not even exist. to test this try and access c:\nul\nul\ in win98 and see what happens. though this directory does not exist but i guess it may cause the machine to crash. it is not a very serious cause you just have to reboot your system.
One more thing. if you know that internet explorer is a kind of shell, not only a browser. for eg. try to open c:\ in it, it will change to the window which you normally open c:\ in. ie. from "my computer". comming to the point that "internet explorer" can be used to open files and browse directories, so the above problem affects it also and trying to access such a path in "internet explorer" also causes the crash. Now suppose some webpage or html email has such a link, even though the link does not exist, if it is clicked will cause the users machine to crash. but this is only when he clicks the link. a more serious problem can be if the html file says that an image is located in this path. because images are loaded automatically. so just opening such webpages or mails can also cause the crash...
So it is a serious problem...

Answer 3

TO create a folder called "con" in the C: drive, open a command prompt. Type in the following commands:
mkdir\\.c:\con (This will create a folder named "con")
dir C:\con (This will list the contents of the directory was indeed created!)
You may also be able to view the folder using Windows explorer, but you may not be able to enter it or delete it. In order to delete the folder, type in "rmdir\\.c:\con" at the comand prompt

Answer 4

SHAUN is wrong. You can't really create a folder named 'con' in any version of Windows.

Answer 5

Rightly answered by gazy
basically these are mnemonics given to varios devices of computers by basic shell.
try fun

on command prompt type
copy con dc.txt
type any stuff here
press at end control + Z
the file gets copied as dc.txt
you can read it as type dc.txt or by any other editor

but now try this
copy con con
key in anything
it is reflected same
press control + Z
message will be IO operation error due display(console) actually named as con .

Take care

Answer 6

Looks like a bug to me - http://mjsabby.com/2005/10/windows-xp-con-folderfile-bug.php

Answer 7

I never tried, but I just now tried, and it just went back to 'new folder' then blanked me out. How weird, I wonder why?

Answer 8

Gazy is right, they are reserved names in Windows.

@SHAUN : Please try before you post, there are many things that you think easy, but have hidden facts in it