DEL 1. deletes all files in folder

Question

I'm trying to delete all files that end with the number one, but for some reason it is deleting all of the files in the folder.

The command I'm using is

DEL *1.*

It works when I use a letter like

DEL *e.*

but when I use a number everything is deleted.

Dennis · Accepted Answer · 2011-12-22T12:52:10.267

Windows keeps an 8.3 file name for every file to ensure compatility.

So if you have the files

test1.ext
test2.ext
test3.long

the last file gets stored with the alternative name

TEST3~1.LON

thus matching the pattern *1.*.

You can execute dir /x to see all 8.3 file names.

Fixes:

To strip all files in the directory directory of their 8.3 name, execute
```
fsutil 8dot3name strip directory
```
To strip all files in the directory directory of their 8.3 name, including those in subdirectories, execute
```
fsutil 8dot3name strip directory /s
```
To disable 8.3 file names on the drive drive: (only affects newly created files), execute
```
fsutil 8dot3name set drive: 1
```
To disable 8.3 file names altogether (only affects newly created files), execute
```
fsutil 8dot3name set 1
```

For the complete syntax, execute

fsutil 8dot3name strip & fsutil 8dot3name set

Furhter information:

1 Answers1