Consider the following scenario:
In this scenario, the behavior of the copy operation is unreliable and fails because of the length of the file or folder path. Additionally, you may experience one of the following symptoms:
This problem may prevent some files or folders from being copied. You may not realize the the problem occurred if you do not receive an error message. Different symptoms may occur, depending on how the files are selected for copying.
Note This problem can also occur when you try to copy files or folders from Volume Shadow Copy Service snapshots if the file or folder length in the snapshot exceeds the maximum path length.
- You have a computer that is running Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 8, Windows Server 2012, Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1), or Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1).
- You use Windows Explorer to try to copy files or folders in order to paste them into some other folder.
- The files or folders that you copy have paths that exceed the maximum allowable path length.
In this scenario, the behavior of the copy operation is unreliable and fails because of the length of the file or folder path. Additionally, you may experience one of the following symptoms:
- The copy operation fails and generates a message that states that the path (file name) is too long. The message also suggests that you shorten the file name and try to copy again.
- The copy operation does not start. In this case, no message is generated.
- The copy operation starts, copies a few files or folders, and then fails without generating a message.
This problem may prevent some files or folders from being copied. You may not realize the the problem occurred if you do not receive an error message. Different symptoms may occur, depending on how the files are selected for copying.
Note This problem can also occur when you try to copy files or folders from Volume Shadow Copy Service snapshots if the file or folder length in the snapshot exceeds the maximum path length.