Strange, but true

[Luke7777]

Somebody discovered that nobody can create a folder anywhere in Windows named as con. Try it out yourself...

[nGAGEd55]

Just tried it and i cant even make a file named con!!!

[NeBo]

Its true. But try making a shortcut called "con". Windows says it already exists.

[nGAGEd55]

Its true. But try making a shortcut called "con". Windows says it already exists.

Yep, its the same with any other file

[NeBo]

lol. Its some sort of Microsoft computer control device switch. We are all at their mercy.......

[Kropotkin]

Reserved name.

Try AUX, COM1, COM2, PRN, LPT1...

CON is the reserved name for the console IIRC.

ie. If you redirect the output of any text file as follows:

type test.txt > con the file contents will be echoed back on the console
type test.txt > lpt1 the file contents will be printed using the printer on LPT1

[Luke7777]

Reserved name.

Try AUX, COM1, COM2, PRN, LPT1...

CON is the reserved name for the console IIRC.

ie. If you redirect the output of any text file as follows:

test.txt > con the file contents will be echoed back on the console
test.txt > lpt1 the file contents will be printed using the printer on LPT1

Yip, that's the explanation I received from my co-workers as well

[Juggy]

Check it out.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...ing_a_file.asp

[DFantom]

It's an old DOS hang up Windows has had to keep around for compatibility
con is keyboard. My favorite with con in the DOS days was

copy con > test.txt

Anything you type will end up in the test.txt file. Press F6 followed by enter to save it. Poor mans text editor, great for those DOS 5.0 installs

This was actually covered in a Microsoft blog a while ago as well
http://blogs.msdn.com/oldnewthing/ar.../22/55388.aspx