Why Can't I Name a Folder aux in Windows 2003?

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SUMMARY

In Windows Server 2003, users cannot name a folder "aux" due to it being a reserved word in the operating system. This restriction also applies to other reserved names such as CON, COM1, NUL, and PRN. The limitation stems from Microsoft's design choices for backward compatibility with older systems. Unlike Unix-based systems, which manage device files under /dev without such restrictions, Windows maintains these reserved names, preventing their use as folder names.

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Can't name a folder "aux"

I have windows 2003 server and whenever i attempt to name a folder "aux" it just switches back to the previous name not allowing me to have a folder named "aux". "aux2" is allowed. I thought this was curious.
 
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It must be some type of reserved word. Why the restriction? I have no idea, but it seems like Microsoft has hacked up their filesystem to be backwards compatibilty or something.

You also can't use: CON, COM1, NUL, PRN

In *nix all these devices would be under /dev so you don't have the filename restriction. You just can't create two files with the same in in the same folder.

I found the info here:

http://groups.google.com/group/micr...2003+aux+folder&rnum=2&hl=en#2e73b889b5232b37
 

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