Knowledge Base

Unable to Save File with Invalid Characters in Notepad or WordPad

Article ID: 207188

Article Last Modified on 1/23/2007

Microsoft Windows 95
Microsoft Windows 98 Standard Edition
Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition

This article was previously published under Q207188

SYMPTOMS

When you click Save while you are trying to save a Microsoft Notepad or Microsoft WordPad file, the Save As dialog box may remain on the screen, and your file may not be saved.

CAUSE

This problem can occur if you try to use a question mark (?) or an asterisk (*) in the File name box.

RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, do not use a question mark or an asterisk in your file name.

MORE INFORMATION

File names can contain any characters except the following:

\ / : * ? <> |

For additional information about related issues, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

177506 Error Message: Filename is Invalid or Cannot Contain Any of the Following Characters

Keywords: kbprb kbui KB207188