CompuServe Thread

#your name.dat file

12 messages in this thread
#47077From: Joel Silverman [Lexicon]Sep 26, 1994 7:19 AM
I 've been meaning to ask you folks for a while now how to get rid of a file called "your name.dat". The date is 3/10/93. If this file is required, how can I move it to another directory? Its in a subdirectory called deskapp. I would want it in one called desktop. Thanks.
#47238From: Tracy McKennaSep 26, 1994 5:21 PM
Dear Joel: No idea what this file is – probably a left over from version 3.0 which used a lot of *.dat files. I would recommend renaming it first to see if there is any effect. If not, it should be OK to delete. Sincerely, Tracy McKenna Okna Tech Support
#47308From: Joel Silverman [Lexicon]Sep 27, 1994 7:21 AM
>> No idea what this file is – probably a left over from version 3.0 which used a lot of *.dat files. I would recommend renaming it first to see if there is any effect. If not, it should be OK to delete. << The problem is that is a "special" file. It is not a regular DOS file. I can't delete, move or rename it because it is WEIRD. I also am stuck with the subdirectory that it lives in. Can't delete it because there is something in it. Maybe Konstantin can help. Thanks
#47351From: Martine A. CarlsonSep 27, 1994 11:07 AM
Joel, From the Windows File Manager, select this file then choose "File/Properties" from the menu. Under File Attributes, uncheck everything except "Archive." Now you should be able to delete or rename the file. If this doesn't work, let me know the exact message you get when you try to rename the file. Sincerely, Martine Carlson Okna Technical Support
#47638From: Joel Silverman [Lexicon]Sep 29, 1994 7:32 AM
>> From the Windows File Manager, select this file then choose "File/Properties" from the menu. Under File Attributes, uncheck everything except "Archive." Now you should be able to delete or rename the file. If this doesn't work, let me know the exact message you get when you try to rename the file. << The message is – can not find file. The exact name of the file is "your nam.dat" with a space between your and nam.
#47731From: Martine A. CarlsonSep 29, 1994 4:58 PM
Joel, DOS doesn't allow spaces in file names, so there's a character there that's not being displayed. Try running a disk diagnostic such as scandisk (it's part of DOS 6 and higher, I'm not sure if it goes any earlier) and see if anything pops up about that file. Sincerely, Martine Carlson Okna Technical Support
#47784From: Joel Silverman [Lexicon]Sep 30, 1994 6:49 AM
>> DOS doesn't allow spaces in file names, so there's a character there that's not being displayed. Try running a disk diagnostic such as scandisk (it's part of DOS 6 and higher, I'm not sure if it goes any earlier) and see if anything pops up about that file. << I know. Scandisk never has indicated a problem. I'm sure its some clever way Konstantin put registration info on the hard disk for some sort of protection or tracking.
#47832From: Martine A. CarlsonSep 30, 1994 4:26 PM
Joel, I just discovered a way to get rid of that file. DOS will era copy all the other files to a temp directory, do a "del *.*" to erase your_nam.dat, then copy all the files back. Sincerely, Martine Carlson Okna Technical Support
#48522From: Joel Silverman [Lexicon]Oct 6, 1994 6:37 AM
>> I just discovered a way to get rid of that file. DOS will era copy all the other files to a temp directory, do a "del *.*" to erase your_nam.dat, then copy all the files back. << It give me a "can not find file" message. The space in the name messes everthing up
#48525From: Joel Silverman [Lexicon]Oct 6, 1994 6:57 AM
do a "del *.*" to erase your_nam.dat I miss read your message and didn't do it at the DOS prompt. It worked-thanks!!
#48811From: Tracy McKennaOct 7, 1994 4:39 PM
Dear Joel: Glad it worked – I'll let Martine know. Sincerely, Tracy McKenna Okna Tech Support
#48031From: Louis WoodOct 3, 1994 11:45 AM
Joel, If you haven't gotten rid of that file yet, I know a few things you can try. First, you have already been told in a previous message that DOS doesn't allow spaces in a filename. That is true and is why DOS can not delete the file. The character generated by the key sequence <ALT>255 looks like a space, but *IS* allowed by DOS. Try deleting the file as you would any normal file, but when spelling it, instead of using a space, use <ALT>255. Specifically, type 'you' then hold down the <ALT> key and while holding it down type all three numbers '255', then release the <ALT> key. You will see the cursor move to the right one space just as if you typed a space. Finish spelling the file name and press <ENTER>. NOTE: This used to work. I just tried it under DOS version 5 and it did not. It won't hurt to try it, though. If all else fails, you may have to resort to what I did a few months ago in a similar situation. (It was not a space, but it was a character not accepted by DOS. I used the HEX editor provided with Norton Utilities, "DISKEDIT.EXE" and search for the string 'nam.dat'. Place the cursor where the space is between the 'r' and the 'n' and replace it with a legal character. Go back to DOS and delete it. Hope this helps. Louis