Knowledge Base

Using the Start Command with Long File Names

Article ID: 186613

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition

This article was previously published under Q186613

SYMPTOMS

You can use the Start command at a command prompt to start applications either at the Terminal Server console or within a Terminal Server Client session. For instance, the command

     start "\\server\share\group contact info.xls"

should open Excel and this spreadsheet, but it does not.

CAUSE

A problem in the parser in Windows NT Server 4.0 causes this command to fail.

RESOLUTION

To make the command work, the command line must be modified to:

     start \\server\share\"group contact info.xls"

STATUS

MORE INFORMATION

More generally, this command will fail:

     start "\\LONG SERVER\LONG SHARE\LONG DIR\LONG FILE"

This command will work:

     start  \\"LONG SERVER"\"LONG SHARE"\"LONG DIR"\"LONG FILE"

Keywords: kbbug kbnofix KB186613