File Manager Title Bar: "Too Many Files. Unable to Read..."

 Last reviewed: May 2, 1995
Article ID: Q93163
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11
  • Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.1, 3.11

SYMPTOMS

If you have too many files in a directory and Windows runs out of memory, File Manager displays a dialog box with a partial listing of files and the following title: 

   Too Many Files. Unable to read entire directory.
This problem can occur with Windows 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11 and Windows for Workgroups 3.1 and 3.11.

CAUSE

This message is displayed when the total amount of memory needed to display the directory exceeds 64K.

WORKAROUND

To workaround this problem, close other applications to free up more memory, or reduce the number of files you keep in one directory.

MORE INFORMATION

When File Manager reads in a directory structure, it stores the information in Windows Global Memory Pool. If Windows cannot allocate the memory File Manager needs to read and display the directory structure, the "Too Many Files" error message is displayed.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a limitation of File Manager.

KBCategory: kbother kbdisplay kberrmsg
KBSubcategory: win30 win31 wfw wfwg
Additional reference words: 3.00 3.00a 3.10 3.11 Novell limit
file

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Last reviewed: May 2, 1995
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