How to Create a CON Folder in Windows?

By: GH Admin | Last Updated: 09/01/2017

Have you ever tried to create a CON folder or any folder with names such as “con”, “prn”, “nul” “com1” “com2” “lpt1” etc. but failed? Is it impossible to create folders with such names in windows?

Well, the answer is NO and YES!

NO because, when create a new folder and try to rename it to any one of the above specified names, you know what happens! In Windows XP the folder name automatically changes back to “New Folder” no matter you try to renaming it any number of times. Where as in case of Windows Vista and Windows 7, when you try to rename the file you get an error message saying “The specified device name is invalid”.

What is the reason behind this? Simple, these names represent the internal devices of the operating system and hence we cannot create folders with the above names.

YES because it is still possible to create these folders using some simple methods as explained below:

1. Using the Command Prompt:

Here is a step-by-step procedure to create the “con” folder using the command prompt:

Go to the command prompt:

Type in the command prompt (For ex. To create a folder in the E: drive by name: “CON”)

In case if you wish to delete the folder, use the following command:

2. Using ALT Key and Numeric Keypad:

You can also use the Alt key and the Numeric keypad to accomplish the same job in a much easier way. Here is how you can do it:

Create a New folder (Right-click -> New -> Folder)

Once the new folder is created, right-click on it and select the option “Rename”.

Hold down the ALT key and type 0160 from the numeric keypad (ALT+0160) and release the ALT key.

Now, the folder name should go blank so that you can type any name of your choice such as “con”, “prn” “nul” etc. and press Enter. That’s it, you’re done!

Why can’t I name a folder or file ‘CON’ in Windows?

In all versions of Windows, we are unable to rename a file or a folder name as CON without third-party file renaming software. Trying to do this in Windows 7 results in an error:

The specified device name is invalid.

Trying to save a file as con.txt in Notepad leads to a similar error:

This file name is reserved for use by Windows.
Choose another name and try again.

Why can’t we name a file or folder CON in Windows?

9 Answers 9

«con» is the name of a system I/O device, the console.

And a couple others, I think.

In the old days it was common in DOS to create a file (and I still do this occasionally) with:

I gave this answer to a duplicate, and thought I’d post it here for your reference:

As previously stated. It’s a reserved word from back in MS-DOS, for the CONsole device (as far as I can remember). But, you can force Windows/dos to create the folder for you. For devices, it uses the format \\.\[RESERVED_WORD] to access the «file» (these devices used files for communication). To force Windows to create your folder, instead of doing mkdir [RESERVED_WORD] , do the following:

For example, to create CON folder on my desktop,

To delete the folder, you have to reference it the same way, or else it won’t work.

My advice though is to just use a different name. It would be very difficult to always refer to it via its absolute path, especially if you are developing an app you plan on deploying.

What is conhost.exe process in Windows 10

What is the Conhost.exe process? Is it safe or a virus? Why does it work on my PC with high CPU, memory or disk usage? The console console window or ConHost.exe are the same, but they have different names in different places in the task manager. They support command line launch. This is the official Microsoft service, not a virus. Let’s talk.

Do I need conhost.exe?

This is a really important process. It is associated with cmd.exe (Windows command line), crsrss.exe or the ClientServer runtime system service. These processes are interdependent. This means that they support each other in the launch and execution of the entire function. This includes support for keyboard and mouse interaction, text display inside a standard Win32 application window.

Why is running multiple instances of the conhost.exe process?

As mentioned earlier, this process starts when you run the command line. This now includes both active and inactive command prompt windows. Many other programs, such as Connectify, must run some command line commands in the background in order to work as intended. But when we use them, we don’t see any command-line pop-up windows, but these commands run in the background. This requires that the console window host executes commands in the background without actually interrupting the user’s task flow. Consequently, many times the program runs several background command line instances simply for more efficient execution of commands. For example, you downloaded programs from torrents and saw the function of silent installation, and fast flickering of cmd during installation.

Is conhost.exe a virus?

Checking whether the process executed by conhost.exe or the Console Window Host (Console Window Host) is malicious or not is very simple. When you find the process in Task Manager, simply right-click on the entry and select “Open file location.” If it opens the path C: \ Windows \ System32 and points to a file named conhost.exe, then you need not worry. If it is located in any other folder or other location, then this could be malware. In this case, I recommend that you perform a full computer scan using Windows Defender or antivirus scanner.

conhost.exe consumes a lot of resources

If this process consumes a lot of resources from you, then:

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The Pros and Cons of Using a Microsoft Account With Windows

What’s better for Windows: a local account or a Microsoft account? Here’s what you need to know to make the right choice for your needs.

Microsoft Accounts are the current iteration of the tech giant’s single sign-in service. Previously known as Microsoft Passport, .NET Passport, Microsoft Passport Network, and Windows Live ID, the service was rebranded as Microsoft Accounts back in 2012 to coincide with the release of Windows 8.

It allows users who have an account to log into a wide range of services and apps using one single account—but its greatest strength arguably comes when used in conjunction with Windows.

But should you actually use one with the flagship operating system? And what about other benefits that derive from having one? MakeUseOf looks into the pros and cons…

The Pros of a Microsoft Account

First, let’s look at some of the benefits of using a Microsoft Account with Windows.

Settings Sync Across All Devices

You know what it’s like when you buy a new computer—it can take hours, days, or even weeks to get it set up exactly the way you like it. Operating systems are becoming more complex, which means the number of settings to customize is near-endless, while the personalization of things such as the Start Menu, desktop backgrounds, and networking options cannot be easily bypassed.

Logging into a machine with your Microsoft Account means that all this personalization moves with you and is automatically displayed on your new PC.

The syncing also extends beyond PCs. For example, if you use a Surface tablet, a Windows Phone, or any other Windows-powered device, your customization will also move there.

Windows Store Apps

The Windows Store apps have been much-criticized since their introduction in 2012, but the truth is that they’ve improved immensely in the last few years—you can now find a whole host of great Windows 10 apps hidden within the store’s confines.

In Windows 10’s early days, it was possible to use the Windows Store without a full-fledged Microsoft Account. Those days have passed.

At least using your account comes with some benefits. For example, if you install an app on your laptop, that app’s icon will be automatically placed on your desktop’s Start menu, and you just need to click it in order to install it. You will not need to search the store for a second time.

Cortana

Cortana is Microsoft’s answer to Google Assistant and Apple’s Siri. It’s an «intelligent personal assistant» that’s designed to do everything from helping you find files on your computer to telling you the best jokes of the day.

The catch is that Cortana needs you to use a Microsoft Account for it to function. As Microsoft writes on its own website, the reason Cortana currently needs you to use your account is because:

Cortana works best when you sign in and allow the use of data from your device and from Microsoft services, as well as from third-party services and skills you choose to connect. To provide you with personalized experiences, Cortana learns from certain data about you, such as your searches, calendar, contacts, and location. You’re in control of how much data you share with Cortana.If you choose not to sign in to Cortana in Windows, you can still chat with Cortana and search the web, as well as documents and emails stored in Microsoft services like OneDrive, and Outlook, and on your Windows device. If you don’t sign in, or if you choose to sign out, your experiences will be more limited and they won’t be personalized with your Cortana data. On iOS and Android devices, Cortana only works when you sign in.

Scary, huh? We’ll come back to that later.

OneDrive

Using a Microsoft Account on Windows also unlocks the full potential of OneDrive.

The service started life as a cloud-based storage solution, but its list of features has grown exponentially, and it now offers Microsoft Account users a lot of benefits that extend beyond instant access to their files.

For example, using your account will allow you to access all the files saved on your computer remotely from any other computer in the world, and you can even access network locations if they’re included in the PC’s libraries or mapped as drives.

Furthermore, if set-up correctly, you can automatically send a photo taken on your phone up to the cloud and then into the OneDrive folder on your PC. That’s both handy and time-saving.

Finally, it will also let you collaborate in real-time on Office documents.

Windows Native Apps

Although it is possible to delete some of the «baked-in» Windows apps, they’re designed to remain part of the operating system and will presumably be getting major new features and upgrades as the years go by. Such apps include Maps, Edge, and People.

Unsurprisingly, your experience with all the new apps is greatly enhanced if you use them in conjunction with a Microsoft Account. For example, if you use your account on People, your contacts will be accessible and in sync across all your Microsoft devices.

Other Microsoft Services

The nature of modern computing means that the boundaries between individual services are becoming increasingly blurred.

Previously standalone products such as Skype, Microsoft Office, Bing, and Outlook are now heavily integrated with Windows and each other.

The result is that logging into these services with your Microsoft Account leads to a fluid and seamless user experience, with your preferences and data on one app used to customize your participation on another.

For instance, you can interact with your Xbox friends on Windows via the app, sync your contacts from your address book with your contacts on Skype, or use your Bing search history to improve Cortana’s machine learning.

The Cons of a Microsoft Account

So far, so good. But what about the downsides?

Privacy

One «con» rises above all others when people discuss the downside of using a Microsoft account—privacy.

While it’s generally been well-received by critics, Windows 10 has come under scrutiny from some quarters for its approach to privacy and sensitive personal data. We’ve covered the wider points of Windows privacy criticisms previously, but the usage of a Microsoft Account undoubtedly raises its own concerns.

We mentioned the wording of the Microsoft Privacy Statement regarding Cortana earlier, and the wording of their Microsoft Account section isn’t much better. Here are a few snippets from their statement:

Creating your Microsoft account: Some data you provide, such as your display name, email address, and phone number, can be used to help others find and connect with you within Microsoft products. Signing in to Microsoft account: When you sign in to your Microsoft account, we create a record of your sign-in, which includes the date and time, information about the product you signed in to, your sign-in name, the unique number assigned to your account, a unique identifier assigned to your device, your IP address, and your operating system and browser version.Using work or school accounts: If you use a Microsoft product with an account provided by an organisation you are affiliated with, such as your work or school account, that organisation can [. ] control and administer your Microsoft product and product account, including controlling privacy-related settings of the product or product account [and] access and process your data, including the interaction data, diagnostic data, and the contents of your communications and files associated with your Microsoft product and product accounts.

There is clearly a juxtaposition here. While it is obviously true that reading the above can send a shiver down your spine, it is important for Microsoft to collect some data in order to provide you with a quality experience on the services you use.

Do they collect too much information? Possibly. Only you can decide whether or not the trade-off is worth it. And you can change several of Windows 10’s default settings by using privacy tools.

Security

Almost as concerning as the aforementioned privacy issues are the potential pitfalls around security.

If you use your Microsoft Account on Windows, a thief or would-be hacker could get access to all your apps and services simply by knowing your password. Similarly, if you leave yourself logged in and haven’t correctly set-up the various timeout settings, someone could sit down at your machine and have free reign across all your accounts.

Microsoft has tried to circumvent this by allowing users to set up a PIN code to log on to computers, rather than having to use their Microsoft-wide password, but there are clearly still inherent dangers.

Remember, You Can Use a Local Account

If you don’t want to worry about the negative security implications of using a Windows 10 account, you can still use a local account on the operating system.

You can even delete your Microsoft Account entirely, though you will lose your data.

Have privacy concerns about using a Microsoft Account in the cloud? Here’s how to create a local Windows 10 login account instead.

Dan joined MakeUseOf in 2014 and has been Partnerships Director since July 2020. Reach out to him for inquires about sponsored content, affiliate agreements, promotions, and any other forms of partnership. You can also find him roaming the show floor at CES in Las Vegas every year, say hi if you’re going. Prior to his writing career, he was a Financial Consultant.

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