invalid encrypted file name on Windows XP

frankiboy

Hi,
I'm using Windows XP SP3 and Boxcryptor in the 2 GB version to encrypt files for storing them to Dropbox.

Unfortunately, the generated filename is invalid. You can reproduce the error by creating a text file in a subdirectory structure. Here is the one, I used for testing and get the error:

C:\My_data\folder_1\folder_2\folder_3\folder_4_data\This_is_data_file_example_1234_NO._ABC_DEFGHIJK_(THESE_ARE_SPECIAL_DATA.)_from_23.10.2007167101.txt

The password, I used is as follows: thisisapassword

The content of the file doesn't matter and has in my example:
1234567890ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Boxcryptor generates the following in the encrypted directory, (mounted to drive K):

C:\Dokuments and Definitions\frankiboy miller\Own files\Mine\xpOY3vqO5qH6\vAut407wfHFFy1\whb0G87KikgoK,\ZVJJNcthLe40--\Zz-GuOrqNNntas4r5miT\J0u-Vc5CeXsc.....

The encrypted filename starts with J0u-Vc5CeXsc..... (cut and paste of the name is not possible. The file name 134 bytes long, if I don't miscount.

This file cannot be read by the Dropbox client or any other application. Also if you try to show the properties of the file, it is not possible. Deleting of the file is in Windows XP not possible, too. I have to boot my PC with Linux to remove the file.

Hope some can help and I can sync all my files to Dropbox.
Thanks
frankiboy

frankiboy

Hi,
problem is solved.

It is not a Boxcryptor problem, it is a Windows XP problem.
If I copy the encrypted folder structure from

C:\Dokuments and Definitions\frankiboy miller\Own files\Mine\xpOY3vqO5qH6\vAut407wfHFFy1\whb0G87KikgoK,\ZVJJNcthLe40--\Zz-GuOrqNNntas4r5miT\J0u-Vc5CeXsc.....

C:\Mine\xpOY3vqO5qH6\vAut407wfHFFy1\whb0G87KikgoK,\ZVJJNcthLe40--\Zz-GuOrqNNntas4r5miT\J0u-Vc5CeXsc.....

all is fine. No problem with Dropbox client, no problem to open the file.

As I suppose, it has to do with the very long filename in the deep folder structure.

frankiboy

Robert

Hi,
as you found out, the problem is rather located at Windows XP. BoxCryptor can handle file paths with up to 32.000 characters. Many other applications (including many internal Windows XP ones) only support paths up to 256 characters. If a path is longer than 256 characters, these applications can not use them and you experience those problems using them.
--Robert

Propensity

Since Windows operating systems support less than 32,000 characters AND BoxCryptor pads file names when encrypting, this is a compatibility issue on the BoxCryptor side of the equation. BoxCryptor is not fully compatible with Windows file name limitations and the file name encryption feature cannot be used on Windows machines without risk of data loss.

Also, there is the issue of the BoxCryptor mounted drive having a shorter path than the encrypted folder. Example: The encrypted BoxCryptor folder is stored in C:\Users\Name\Documents\BoxCryptor and the mounted BoxCryptor drive path is M:\BoxCryptor\. M drive will allow you to use more characters than the encrypted folder on C. Files on C drive get stuck and cannot be moved or otherwise accessed.