Windows 10: Cannot open files from saved search - "The directory name is invalid"

Since the 2008-08 Cumulative Update Preview KB4571744 installed earlier today, I have been unable to open files directly from saved searches in Windows Explorer.


The problem exists with all my saved searches. All the files are shown but when I try to open any of them, I get an error message showing the correct file path my local hard disk C: drive and relevant subfolders and the message "The directory name is invalid".


It is not actually invalid because, if I go to the file's actual location using the context menu of the file shown in the saved search, that directory opens up and I can open the file as expected.


This behavior only exhibits if the search is saved. Files found by typing new searches into the search box can be opened as expected from the list of search results. But if I save the search and try again, I get the "invalid directory" error message.


The saved searches in question have worked perfectly for a long time.


I will try uninstalling the KB4571744 and 4576754 Microsoft Edge updates to see whether the problem goes away, and will report back. In the meantime, has anyone else come across this.

:)

 

The Directory Name Is Invalid

OK, here's my situation. I have a Western Digital (WD) My Passport Ultra external USB hard drive. I use this as a media drive on my WD TV Live Plus media player. For some unknown reason, the media player will sometimes corrupt files on the My Passport drive. The net effect is that a file is somehow changed into a directory.

The problem is when I attempted to delete/remove the corrupted file/directory, I receive a 'The directory name is invalid.' error.

I've tried the following:

• Run chkdsk /f; no errors found.
• Run WD Drive Utilities diagnostics; no errors found.
• Checked dir /x looking for an 8.3 filename; no luck.
• Taken ownership of the directory; no luck.
• Tried a few file unlocker utilities; no luck (not reported as locked and delete fails).
• Even tried an NTFS disk editor; no luck.

I've spent the last three hours googling a solution. Nothing!

Anyone else ever encountered something similar and found a solution?

 

The directory name is invalid

Hi David,

Since you have rebuilt your computer, it may have made some changes or installed some updates that might be causing the error message "G: \The directory name is invalid". However, let's check if there is a device that you can remove in Safely Remove Hardware
utility. Follow these steps to access the utility:

• Press the Windows icon + R on your keyboard.
• Copy and paste this 'RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL hotplug.dll".
• Remove any device that you'll see in the utility.
• Restart your computer, then observe if the issue will occur again.

We're looking forward to your feedback.

 

Cannot Delete Empty Folder "Directory Name is Invalid"

Did you actually succeed in renaming it, or did it fail with the 'invalid' error?

Perhaps you can delete it by using its 8.3 name. Open a command prompt, then type cd Desktop to go into that directory. Now type dir /x to list the 8.3 names as well as the long names. Now try deleting it using its 8.3 short name.