Jump to content

Command prompt does not accept special characters in folder name

Guest hmm
Guest hmm
in Tech Help and Discussions

Guest, which answer was the most helpful?

If any of these replies answered your question, please take a moment to click the 'Mark as solution' button on the post with the best answer.
Marking posts as the solution will help other community members find answers to their questions quickly. Thank you for your help!

Featured Replies

Posted

I tried using the command prompt to copy a file, unsuccessfully. I then

tried using the CD command, starting the from C:\> prompt, to make each

successive sub-folder of the path the default directory. I succeeded until I

got to a sub-folder with an ampersand (&) in its name. Here is the

command-prompt input and the response:

 

C:\Documents and Settings\hm\My Documents>cd clippings & drafts

 

The system cannot find the path specified.

'drafts' is not recognized as an internal or external command,

operable program or batch file.

 

How do I get Command Prompt to recognize this folder name?

  • Quote
  • Mark as Solution
    •

    Try putting the folder name in quotes. Also, pull up a dir and make sure it

    didn't make seperate folders for each word (if you used the command prompt

    to make the dirs).

     

    Joe

     

    "hmm" <hmm@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

    news:22E332F9-1DA9-428D-A9D5-62B30321E955@microsoft.com...

    >I tried using the command prompt to copy a file, unsuccessfully. I then

    > tried using the CD command, starting the from C:\> prompt, to make each

    > successive sub-folder of the path the default directory. I succeeded

    > until I

    > got to a sub-folder with an ampersand (&) in its name. Here is the

    > command-prompt input and the response:

    >

    > C:\Documents and Settings\hm\My Documents>cd clippings & drafts

    >

    > The system cannot find the path specified.

    > 'drafts' is not recognized as an internal or external command,

    > operable program or batch file.

    >

    > How do I get Command Prompt to recognize this folder name?

    >

    >

  • Quote
  • Mark as Solution
    •

    You need quotes because of the white space on each side of the &.

    Example: cd "clippings & drafts"

     

    JS

     

    "hmm" <hmm@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

    news:22E332F9-1DA9-428D-A9D5-62B30321E955@microsoft.com...

    >I tried using the command prompt to copy a file, unsuccessfully. I then

    > tried using the CD command, starting the from C:\> prompt, to make each

    > successive sub-folder of the path the default directory. I succeeded

    > until I

    > got to a sub-folder with an ampersand (&) in its name. Here is the

    > command-prompt input and the response:

    >

    > C:\Documents and Settings\hm\My Documents>cd clippings & drafts

    >

    > The system cannot find the path specified.

    > 'drafts' is not recognized as an internal or external command,

    > operable program or batch file.

    >

    > How do I get Command Prompt to recognize this folder name?

    >

    >

  • Quote
  • Mark as Solution
    •

    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Reply to this topic...
    Go to topic listing