Cannot Copy File Whose Filename Begins with a Period

ID: Q135179

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you try to copy a file, if the source or destination is a long filename that starts with a period (.), you receive the error message "Path not found."

Note that this problem occurs only if you supply a path to the source or destination file. For example,


   copy c:\path\to\.source destdir

or:


   copy source c:\path\to\.dest

CAUSE

This problem occurs because Command.com assumes that any filename beginning with a period is a directory name, even though long filenames can begin with a period.

RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, use Windows Explorer to copy the file instead of typing a COPY command at an MS-DOS prompt. Or, copy the file using its short filename, and then rename the file.

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