[Virtualacorn-list] File errors

[Alan Adams]

In message <4ef8581850.barry.punchard at barry.btinternet.com>
          Barry Punchard <barry.punchard at btinternet.com> wrote:

> On 4 Jan          brian.jordan9 at btinternet.com wrote:

>> On 04 Jan, Barry Punchard <barry.punchard at btinternet.com> wrote:
>>> Using VRPC-SE 1.0.6 under Windows XP I've had an annoying problem with
>>> some files I can't get rid of. They are called 'nul/png' or close
>>> variation and came with a website download. WeGen2 seems to create them.
>> 
>> [Snip]
>> 
>> This rang a bell with me. It has to do with "nul" being an invalid file
>> name in Windows. Some time ago I had a similar problem and found this on
>> the Interweb -
> Yes, and another problem file is 'prn.zip', so a similar reason?

I'd guess lpt, con, prn, prt? nul, com, maybe usb#
(lineprinter, console, printer, null, communications... in DOS speak.)

At one time (NT4?) the only way to print a postscript file to a 
postscript printer was copy file.ps lpt:
The trailing : indicates a device.

>> 
>> "I've found it's possible to whack files with invalid names by using a
>> sector editor to alter the filenames to something valid.

> I was thinking that was my only hope. Thanks.

>> In my case, I accidentally created 'nul.png', which Windows kept
>> mistaking for the nul device whenever I tried to delete it. What I
>> finally did to get rid of nul.png was use Disk Explorer (an NTFS-aware
>> sector editor) to rename the 'file' to 'nxx.png' and then deleted it
>> normally."

I have an interesting file in the wastebasket. It's name is 
PICT0468.MOV, but when I try to empty the wastebasket I get the error 
message "
Cannot delete Dc5: it is being used by another person or program."

It has continued to do this through multiple reboots, and even cloning 
the disc to a bigger one. This is the first time I have read the error 
properly, and spotted the :

I feel a need for the sector editor...

> Is this a problem that VRPC could protect against?

That would be nice...

> Barry



-- 
Alan Adams, from Northamptonshire
alan at adamshome.org.uk
http://www.nckc.org.uk/