Cipher.exe Does Not Support Using Wildcard Characters

• Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional

SYMPTOMS

When you try to use the Cipher.exe tool to encrypt a file, you may receive the following error message:

The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.

CIPHER.EXE cannot process directories using wildcards. To workaround this, process each folder and/or child folder separately.

CAUSE

This issue can occur if you try to use wildcard characters such as asterisk (*), or question mark (?) characters with your Cipher command. Cipher.exe cannot process folders using these wildcard characters.

RESOLUTION

To work around this issue, do not try to use wildcard characters such as asterisk (*), or question mark (?) characters with your Cipher command.

STATUS

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about Cipher.exe, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q229530 Cipher Does Not Process Multiple Folders

Additional query words: 2000

Keywords : kberrmsg kbtool kbui
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb