File name too long cannot copy (cont'd)

5/22/2014

This is an addendum to locked forum File name too long cannot copy.  Just want to share what worked for me.

On a file server running Windows Server 2008 R2, I ran into this issue for only two files at the same path.  I was trying to move them to a different local drive while maintaining the exact same file structure.  After reading the entire thread referred to above, I tried the method in which a user mapped a drive to the parent folder of the affected file(s).  Here's how my dilemma played out:

• The file names lengths were 231 & 230, including their extensions.
• The parent folder path length = 40 yielding 271 for the longest path.
• Source: E:\users\<8-char user name>\<7-char dir name>\<13-char dir name>\
• Destination: "G" drive with same file structure.

Steps taken:

1. Made the file structure on G: the same as the source.
2. Shortened the names of the folders in the source folder's path; luckily, there were only two.  It became this:
   E:\users\<8-char user name>\<1-char dir name>\<1-char dir name>\
3. File structure of destination remained intact.
4. Mapped a drive to each path.
5. Was able to perform usual operations on the files; in this case, I moved them.

I didn't care to open them because I had accomplished my goal and the user account to which this home folder was associated was already in the disabled state.  THE END...and a very happy one at that! :-)