Why we can't create or rename folder in windows as "con" "aux" "nul"????

Answer 1

Windows is a "shell" or "front end" to DOS. And DOS users will reacll that there are certain words used internally by DOS and these words have special meaning. To avoid confilicts, users are *NOT* allowed to use these words, called "Reserved Words". There are many and each one has a specific purpose. Eg: CON (for console), AUX (Auxiliary), PRN (Printer), NUL (meaning nothing) etc.

Whenever you try to use these words as file/folder names, windows generates an error preventing you from using the names thus safe-guarding the "meaning" of these special words.

Answer 2

Windows "sees" various devices as files - con is the console or keyboard, for example.

So, Windows prevents you creating a file or folder that has the same name as one of the device filenames.

Try this -
1. open a command window
2. change to the root of your c: drive
3. type in the command ...
Copy con myfile.txt
4. then type in anything you like and finish with ctrl-z

if you then look at the root of your c: drive you will find you have a file called myfile.txt and it will contain the text you typed.