What's wrong with 'con'?

[Tek]

Freaky trick of the day:

Try creating a folder (under Win2K/XP) called 'con'. Try even at the command prompt. I bet you can't!

Any programmers here have any idea why? Is this a reserved device name to Windows?

Edit: Yes I did find that it is a really old reserved device name for DOS. You could send output to the console, which meant using 'con'.

Example: copy test.txt con

I guess that answers that...

[rhosk]

Good find, never knew that. I remember DOS and "copy con" (emulating console), but the rest escapes me - I'm way too old

[gbrown]

Go to the dos command prompt.

Type in:

copy con kill.me

Type something in.

Hit Control-z

What you typed is in "kill.me".

Heh, heh. Back in MY day REAL MEN used "con" all the time .

GcB

[Intrigued]

Go to the dos command prompt.

Type in:

copy con kill.me

Type something in.

Hit Control-z

What you typed is in "kill.me".

Heh, heh. Back in MY day REAL MEN used "con" all the time .

GcB

[BellyLaughterOn]

You just'a be CON'in me aint yee?

[BellyLaughterOff]