SOLVED Files/folders too long for Recycle Bin

[Hans L]

Hello:

I cannot find an answer to why there is a limit to the length of a folder name or file name for it to be sent to the Recycle Bin. A second question is if it is the name or the path that counts? And, third, what is the limit?

Thank you!

Hans L

 

[TrainableMan]

The length is the "folders\subfolders\filename" combination. And I believe the limit is around 256 characters.

 

[Hans L]

TrainableMan, thank you. Would you happen to know why there is a limit?

 

[TrainableMan]

It is related to Max_Path set by Microsoft

That's why it works as it does but there is still the "why did Microsoft set this limit".

I can only speculate it is related to backward compatibility. Computers think in binary (0's and 1's) and 256 is 2^8 which is a very "nice" fitting number for bits to bytes (a byte is 8 bits long). Then you tack on a drive letter such as C:\ at the front and a stop-char at the end and you hit their setting for Max_Path which is 260.

 

[Hans L]

It is related to Max_Path set by Microsoft

That's why it works as it does but there is still the "why did Microsoft set this limit".

I can only speculate it is related to backward compatibility. Computers think in binary (0's and 1's) and 256 is 2^8 which is a very "nice" fitting number for bits to bytes (a byte is 8 bits long). Then you tack on a drive letter such as C:\ at the front and a stop-char at the end and you hit their setting for Max_Path which is 160.

Okidoke. I understand you meant 260, not 160. Thanks for the info!

Hans L

 

[TrainableMan]

Yes 260, & I corrected it above as well.

 

[frans daniel]

Long too path error!
"Long path tool" is very helpful for this problem. You can solve this problem like copy, delete, long path files by using this tool.
I used to have similar problems too, but after using "long path tool" everything was solved.

 

[Hans L]

Is "Long Path Tool" safe? How do I know?

Hans L

 

[TrainableMan]

I wouldn't pay $18 for something you can fix easily by simply using fewer subdirectories or shorter directory names