The source file name(s) are larger than is supported by the file system...

Anonymous

"The source file name(s) are larger than is supported by the file system. Try moving to a location which has a shorter path name, or try renaming to shorter name(s) before attempting this operation."

There are about 10 subfolders on the computer. None can be deleted, moved or renamed without that message appearing. I've already tried UNLOCKER ASSISTANT & DELINVFILE to get rid of this folder. Once again, none worked. Command prompt did not work as well. Please help me, this folder will not go away on my desktop.

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Anonymous

First try deleting them by bypassing the Recycle Bin by using SHIFT-DEL(thanks, Michael Murphy) instead of just DEL.

Try using one of the following free products to delete the file/folder. Unlocker at: http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Miscellaneous/Unlocker.shtml or File Assassin http://www.malwarebytes.org/fileassassin.php (with or without Force Delete and you may need Force Delete in this instance: http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/12/27/force-delete-cannot-delete-locked-or-in-used-files-or-folders-with-fileassassin/). These programs often work when normal Vista delete functions fail to operate properly. You may have already tried Unlocker (I don't know if it's the same as Unlocker Assistant) but if this one if different, give it a try.

Here's an article on this topic (related to a different subject, but essentially the same problem) with a number of suggestions - one of which may work for you: http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/how-to-delete-source-file-names-are-larger-than-is-.

I hope one of these options helps. If not, post back and we'll see if we can find another answer.

Good luck!

Lorien - MCSE/MCSA/Network+/A+ --- If this post helps to resolve your issue, please click the "Mark as Answer" or "Helpful" button at the top of this message. By marking a post as Answered, or Helpful you help others find the answer faster.

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Anonymous

Hi everyone,

I tried all of the above and none of them fixed my issues, however I found out make a drive mapping about halfway into the folder structure you should be able to delete the latter half of the file heirarcy.

For example if you are getting the error trying to delete:

\\NAS.Device.Company.com\a\b\c\d\e\f\g\h\i\j\k\l\m\n\o\p\q\r\s\t\u\v\w\x\y\z

Then map a network drive Z: to

\\NAS.Device.Company.com\a\b\c\d\e\f\g\h\i\j\k\

This will reduce the file herarch down to a smaller path. Open explorer and view the Z: drive. It should contain a folder called L (in this example).

You should now be able to delete the L and its subfolders without an issue, thereby deleting half the folder hierarchy. After that, disconnect the z: drive and try to delete whatever is left normally. Problem solved!

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Anonymous

2015-04-07T15:55:06+00:00

Hii LocalChili ,

Thanks for posting your queries.

I hope you could have sort out this problems , but as this forum is to help everyone, I want to contribute here something too , that I have also done and it really helped.

First thing is that You needn't to download any Programs for this.

As , Windows has special problems dealing with extra long path/filenames. If the

combination of the path and file names gets close to 255 characters (127 for

Windows 95/98/ME) Windows will likely not handle it well if you try to delete or

rename it (you can create it but not change it). The first

thing is to try to rename some of the folders that lead up to the file

itself. Back the directory display up one level and then select and rename the

folder the file is in. Try a single letter (obviously, keep a record of what

folder you named to what so you can reverse the process!). Then, go back to the

file and see if Windows then allows you to rename or delete it. If not, go back

yet another folder and rename that one and so forth. At some point you should be

able to find a series of reduced-length folder names that allow you to then

rename the offending file to a short enough name to allow you to then recreate

the original directory tree and still work with the file in question. Actually the main objective is to try to make the path shorter in length instead of only file name and folder name.

I also hope that this options helps. If not, please post back or pin me.

I am always available on mail too -> ******@outlook.com
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Anonymous

2015-04-07T10:31:15+00:00

Try to get in to several folders.

For example you cannot delete D:\a\b\c\d\e\f\g\h\i\j\k\l\m\n\o\p\q\r\s\t\u\v\w\x\y\z

Try to get in to D:\a\b\c\d\e\f\g\h\i\j\k\l\m\n\o\p\q\r\

After you are in the folder named r, then delete all the folders inside it.

So you delete \s\t\u\v\w\x\y\zYou should now be able to delete the s and its subfolders without an issue, thereby deleting some of the folder hierarchy.

Then repeat the same method to delete for example folder k and its subfolders [l\m\n\o\p\q\r](file://nas.device.company.com/a/b/c/d/e/f/g/h/i/j/k/l/m/n/o/p/q/r/s/t/u/v/w/x/y/z)

until you reach main folder and delete it and its subfolders.

Thank you.

I hope this works for you as it does for me.

Thx to dbutch1976 which inspired me to use this simple method. Assuming this works, the method from dbutch1976 will surely works. ;-)
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