Error: The source filename are larger than is supported by the file system. Cannot delete files. Windows 8.1

Question

I tried changing file name but it won't change. Tried moving and deleting. Tried deleting from cmd but it won't work.

Answer 1

I remember running into this problem before due to a failed backup. It took me hours of searching before I came across this not-so-good solution (although it does work).

1. Create a new user account.

2. Move the file into that user account.

3. Delete the account.

Another solution from Microsoft here.

Users in same situation here.

Answer 2

In the Windows API (with some exceptions), the maximum length for a path is MAX_PATH, which is defined as 260 characters.

However it is possible to create longer filenames, through a variety of means and that's what's happened here.

Fortunately unless you've specifically turned the option off, all files in Windows still have an 8.3 filename. This will have a ~ in it somewhere (e.g. in my system32 directory there's a file called {A6D608F0-0BDE-491A-97AE-5C4B05F7CDA2}.bat which has an 8.3 name of {A6D60~1.BAT (the first six characters of the filename, then a tilde, and then a number in case multiple files have the same first six characters).

• Open a command prompt (cmd.exe)
• Change to the relevant directory
• Get this using the dir /x command
• Then use that ~ filename to delete the file