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I'm setting up a small Internet Service Provider (ISP)/BBS using Windows NT Server (NTS) 4.0. While testing Microsoft's News Server beta, I found a bug. I pulled down some newsgroups from my ISP, and some directories named aux were created.
I didn't want these aux newsgroups, so I attempted to use Explorer to delete the aux directories. The attempt failed. The command prompt didn't work. I could use the Find File command and locate the directories, but I got a message that the dir/folder couldn't be found. Go figure!
Then I hit Internet Relay Chat (IRC) to find some help. After a few tries, I gathered enough information to delete the directories.
I had to use the POSIX utilities in Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Resource Kit to kill those directories. I just needed the command rmdir--a simple solution once I figured out which command. Table 1 lists the POSIX utilities that come with NTS 4.0 Resource Kit.
I later found another way to eliminate the directories: Issue the command:
RD \\?\d:\inetpub\nntproot\comp.unix.aux (substitute the offending newsgroup)
The \\?\ tells RD to use POSIX support when dealing with this file and directory.
Now Microsoft has released a new beta of the News Server, and it has documentation and a special utility. The following is a quote from the documentation about the aux trouble.
Both UNIX and Windows NT Server store each node (such as "comp" and "unix" and "aux") as a separate directory. "aux" is a reserved word in Windows NT, making it difficult to remove. The auxdel.exe utility allows this directory to be removed...
1. On the Start menu, point to Programs and then click Command Prompt.
2. Change directories to the root level of the drive where comp.unix.aux is stored.
3. Type the following command, substituting the appropriate drive letter and directory names:
rd\\.\drive:\inetpub\nntproot\comp.unix.aux
I hope this information helps. Love the mag!
—Jason Staker
[email protected]
TABLE 1:
POSIX Utilities in the Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Resource Kit
UtilityMS-DOS EquivalentDescription
catTYPEconCATenator
ccnoneC Compiler - CL front-end. More CC info
chmodATTRIBCHange MODe
chownnoneCHange OWNer
cpCOPYCoPy
findnonefile finder
grepnoneGlobal Regular Expression Print - FIND sub
lnnoneLiNker
lsDIRLiSt
mkdirMDMaKe DIRectory
mvRENMoVe
rmDELReMove
rmdirRDReMove DIRectory
shCOMMANDSHell. More SH Info
touchnoneChange dates
viEDITvi (VIsual) clone. More VI Info
wcnoneWord Count
