The file name you specified is not valid or too long

Have you ever wonder why sometimes you will get such error when you decided to delete, move or copy certain files in windows XP? Actually, this is not cause by virus but rather the way XP works.

To move data to different partition, the name of a file cannot exceeds  231 characters or such error will occur. Moving data is essential in order to make backup or format our harddisk, so this error will prevent us from doing that. Luckily there is a way to handle this error.

1.Rename the file

Since the problem lies in long fine name, just rename the file. However I know that most of us is too lazy to do this and it is ok if you just have one file to do so, how about if you have fifty?

2. Using cancopy software

Cancopy is a software that will overcome this problem completely. For a little price, you will not having such issue anymore. If you just want to use it in order to format your PC, just use the trial version since all of the data will be dissapear once you format it. So you will not be having any license expired issue.

3. Archieve it

Just archieve the file that you want to move into .rar or .zip. Then you can start the transfer process normally. The weakness is that it consumes time because you need to archive it and extract it back.

I do not know whether windows Vista still has this issue, however the way to fix it should be the same if Vista still has this issue.

Actually it is not really hard to format your own PC but a lot of computer user just too lazy too learn and willing to send their PC to computer shop to format. Instead of burning RM40 for format, it is good if you learn how to format your own PC.

Windows XP can be format at Desktop or from BIOS. In this tutorial, I will teach how to format from BIOS.

There is 3 main steps to format windows XP. 

1. Boot Sequence

• After inserting windows XP cd, you need to make sure that your PC will boot from your CD drive, not your hard disk.
• To do this, you need to change the boot sequence so that CD/DVD Drive is sequence to the top. This will make your PC boot from the XP disc.
• Boot sequence is located at BIOS setup (for most PC, you need to press Delete to enter BIOS setup).

2. Following instructions

• After you save and quit BIOS setup, PC will restart. Then the system will ask you to press any key to load from CD/DVD drive. So, press any key.
• After that, you just need to follow the instruction given.

3. Installing driver

• After formatting completed, you need to install your PC driver so that related devices can be function. Usually, the driver such as sound, video, LAN and USB driver comes with your motherboard CD driver.
• If you do not want to install the driver again after format, you can use software like Driver Magic to backup your driver. After formatting, you just need to install the Driver Magic software again and then load the backup driver. That’s all.

Sometimes, you will have a hard time to format your PC. This is maybe because your windows partition table is damaged due to virus. To overcome this, you need to repair your partition table first either using Windows XP recovery console or TestDisk software.