Bill Sux

In this day and age the long-filename-business is so stupid. Why doesn't the software quickly scan for troublesome names (mostly IE links) and either ignore them, or highlight them for editing, before engaging on a delicate crash-risky task? Why doesn't MS warn before creating them in the first place?

Right. The Sonic stuff complains and *then* crashes, 20 minutes later, so I loaded Roxio and it complains ("Yes to All" works) then burns properly.

I think the Roxio allows 8-deep directories. Maybe/probably the file structure on DVDs isn't fully NTFS compatible.

John

Don't know for sure, since I cut over to the Roxio software for burning. But that's where the long filenames were for sure.

John

Terry Given wrote: ...

...

Terry,

You can move the "My Documents" folder where you want, such as onto another disk. Just right click and select properties and follw the instructions. I usually put it on a separate disk from the O/S for the reasons you mention.

Now I wish it didn't have a space in the filename!!! Supposedly one of the European language versions does have a better name without a space.

cheers

kevin

The Sonic stuff came installed with XP on my Dell.

The long file names came from Microsoft's web site, and XP complains about them if I try to delete them. And whichever burn software you use, the DVD file structure can't handle these filenames.

John

My software (Roxio) doesn't crash, but it does complain and ask if you want to fix the files, before it starts writing to the disk.

I don't know if Microsoft is that much to blame for the dog's breakfast of file systems and extensions. There's also a surprisingly small limit to the depth of nesting of "folders" that can cause problems, and then there are still other problems for languages that use Unicode for file names.

Both my car and portable MP3 player have problems playing large numbers of files (more than 75 or 128 respectively on one disk in one directory). It's a bit of a mess.

But for DVDs, it sure beats using backup tapes. I can't wait for the dual-layer disks to come down in price a bit so I can get the whole my documents folder onto one disk and everything else but programs onto two disks.

Best regards, Spehro Pefhany

One thing that really irritates me with Windows, and it *is* Microsloth's fault, is that there are a few files on my system that Windows cannot delete (nor can I delete them from a command console with any trick I've tried, including various wildcard combinations) because they have some characters in the file name that are not supposed to be there in the first place.

Best regards, Spehro Pefhany

I don't think it's really DOS on Win2K, just a console without the GUI. And it wouldn't. I gave up on it, cause it wasn't really hurting me, but it's an annoyance. Fortunately, I don't use IE that much anymore so those files are not accumulating.

This is really ugly. Exclamation marks, '+' signs, square brackets, semicolons, etc. in the file name.

The short (8.3) file name doesn't work either-- "File Not Found".

The arcane "\\\\?\\" syntax doesn't work either-- now it can't find the path. But dir works. Yuk.

Best regards, Spehro Pefhany

Hello John,

The first thing we do with a new laptop out here is to disable everything that sounds even remotely automated. Zero tolerance there when it comes to the web and certainly with OS vendors ;-)

Regards, Joerg

Nero does, or did do that, but I find recent versions of Nero not so good. Too bloated, too automated, and distribution disks that come with drives sometimes say that the drive is not licenced....,

Is everything ok when you empty the temporary internet files folder ?

Graham

In article , Spehro Pefhany wrote: [...]

Try the DOS REN command to change the names. If you can construct a wildcard that will only select the file in question, it sometimes works for things that the DOS ERASE won't touch.

I guess you could also write a throw-away program specific to the job.

Anyone tried eComStation (eCS, former OS/2) lately? With MiroCrap's junk, I'm interested in possibly purchasing a copy to just try it out.

I have XP running since it came out and I have had just a few minor problems, not a single formatting or recharging Windows. The network works great, I can edit videos, burn DVDs, work with a PC-scope and have some hardware based audio test rig running. Larkin blames BG for the crappy Sonic software he bought at Walmart or BestBuy. Is that not a Californian company? If you need someone in your company to handle the PCs, get Rich Grise. I'm sure he can fix all your problems in a second and certainly can improve your network a bit more. So he can have his teeth done.

DOS normally sorts that. You need to boot to DOS using F8 on startup though.

Some stuff can be fixed using winfile ( the old file manager ) too.

Graham

I would blame Dell for it then. You can always make a non Joliet compliant disk with those file names. I wonder why you have to backup that Redmond crap at all.

I just had a look at your website. It has this look and feel... can not be worse. It gives the feeling of old-fashioned surplus dealer of tubed equipment. You might consider that advise above, maybe not Rich, but someone else.

Sorry forgot the link. Difficult to find if you do not know the proper name.

We've had the same kind of nonsence. It was worse though. Dell's chimp diagnosed a duff mobo but we knew it was the PSU. No good. A new mobo *had* to be fitted. At least when the tech arrived he was able to correctly diagnose the PSU. It took about a whole week before it was fixed though. Oh - the tech didn't have a PSU with him. They're only given the bits that the chimps tell them they need.

Oh - and then.... because of the new mobo it didn't work straight off - XP had to be re-activated ( by us of course - not Dell's problem ) . Salt in the wound if you ask me.

The only good thing about Dell is that they're cheap.

Graham

Yes. They used to be good, and used to have worthwile support. My latest two "workstations" have OK electronics, crap packaging, and support is now Indian ladies reading scripts. Unfortunately, the problems I had aren't in the scripts.

So, where does one get a good PC these days? Maybe a local boutique assembler? I don't mind paying for quality, but I mind paying and not getting it.

John