Invalid long filenames

[cajunfries]

Trying to upgrade my laptop HD and the copy program (EZGig) comes up with this error and stops. Have run Scandisk dozens of times both in Windows and DOS. Windows Scandisk says it's OK now, but DOS Scandisk says there's still one or more invalid long filenames, but can't tell me which file it is. Have browsed through the whole directory structure but too many possibilites. Anyone know another method to find these long filenames and delete or fix them?

[bbeard67]

This is usually solved by empting your temporary internet file
and the cache's of any other browser you may use

Also
Start Scandisk in windows
uncheck automatically fix errors
click advanced
check "report ms-dos mode name length errors" and "invalid filenames" should allready be checked if not check it
Don't fix these errors with scandisk
Just use it to find the files

filename length isn't always the only problem
the length of the path to the filename can cause problems as well

For Example
The macromedia shockwave plugin
The 'C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MACROMED\SHOCKW~3\XTRAS\DOWNLOA D\MACROM~1\XMLPAR~1' folder cannot be opened in MS-DOS mode because its MS-DOS name, including the names of any folders it is in, is longer than 66 characters.

I got about 40 of these but i wouldn't want scandisk to fix this i would just remove the plug in

[cajunfries]

Thanks for the replies. I finally resolved it (after staying up 'til 3am last night). Here's the background for anyone else plagued with this nonsense: Scandisk under DOS found problems, but could not fix them. It referred me to Scandisk for Windows. Even with all the proper Advanced Options turned on, Scandisk for Windows still couldn't find anything wrong, much less fix them. I found a little freeware program called "The Renamer" which had the capability to find long filenames (> 64 char.). Unfortunately it could only find them and not fix them, but that was better than nothing. Most of the long filenames were from Favorites and from webpages I had downloaded long ago and forgotten about. I bundled these into ZIP files temporarily instead of trying to edit each and every one. Also had to delete some non-essential programs with long pathnames like Shockwave, Winamp and Flash Player, but these can be easily reinstalled later. Also had to move some Photoshop files to shorten the path. Rounded out the procedure with cleaning out the Recycle bin and Temp files, then an overnight Defrag, and this morning, DOS Scandisk found NO long filenames!