A Strange problem with nul on Windows XP: "the system cannot find the file specified."

[Jonathan Orlev]

Hello everyone,

I have what seems to be a very strange problem in Windows XP:
it seems that the device (virtual file, bit backet) 'nul' is not available.

When I redirect to it, I get the error message:
"the system cannot find the file specified"

for example, if I type:
dir > nul

I shall get:
"the system cannot find the file specified."

Does any one have an idea ?

This is not the computer I am working on. Can it be a program that changed
it somehow ?

ThanQ,

Jonathan Orlev

[Marty List]

Try this:

- From a command prompt run these 2 commands:
Set DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES=1
Start Devmgmt.msc

- From Device Manager, use the View menu to "Show Hidden Devices".

- In the Device list, find "Non-Plug and Play Drivers"

- See if there is a NULL device listed, and right click, see if it's
enabled.

"Jonathan Orlev" <Jonath...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:db4cdab4.03060...@posting.google.com...

[Pavel Srubar]

Jonath...@yahoo.com (Jonathan Orlev) wrote

> it seems that the device (virtual file, bit backet) 'nul' is not available.

> dir > nul

> "the system cannot find the file specified."

Driver for this device is "%SystemRoot%\SYSTEM32\drivers\Null.sys".
Go to Device Manager, show hidden devices and unfold Non-PNP devices.
Check if the Null device is running (should have startup type "System").
Then check if the key "NUL" has value "\Device\Null"
in "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\DOS Devices".

Bye,
v
Sr.

[Jonathan Orlev]

I want to thank you Pavel and Marty,

This indeed was the problem. For some reason, the null device was disabled.

I did not even new it exists...

Regards,

Jonathan Orlev

Pavel....@post.cz (Pavel Srubar) wrote in message news:<79a03004.03060...@posting.google.com>...