Article ID: 186613 - Last Review: November 1, 2006 - Revision: 2.1

Using the Start Command with Long File Names

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This article was previously published under Q186613
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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.
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CAUSE

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

To make the command work, the command line must be modified to: 
     start \\server\share\"group contact info.xls"
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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"
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APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition
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Keywords: 
kbbug kbnofix KB186613
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