Why You Can't Name A File CON In Windows

The short answer is "backwards compatibility". The long answer is... well, it's the rest of this video.

(you can find contact details and social links there too)

[jyp]

*Windows*
Pro: You can name a file *PRO*
Con: You can't name a file *CON*

[spoiltmilk]

Tom Scott: Have you ever wondered about why [obscure fact I've never wondered about]?

Me: Well, I sure do now

[shrekfrog]

In 2018, after finalizing my thesis, I thought of naming the three individual files that I would send to my groupmates "CON", "GRAT", and "ULATIONS". We didn't have a file format or anything since we had to physically print and hardbound the manuscript, so I wanted the names to be lighthearted.

CON.pdf wouldn't work and I got sucked into a rabbit hole of why files can't be named "CON". Ended up naming the files "CONG", "RAT", and "ULATIONS". This video reminded me of that time!

[behemoth]

I gotta say, that kind of backwards compatability is what makes much of my corporate work even feasible. Sometimes you need the one specific way of accessing a file that people stopped using a decade ago because its worse than the rest in 90% of cases but makes a workaround for the current situation possible.

[waynedas]

When Tom said you could open a Word file from 30 years ago I thought to myself "Wait, they had Word in the '70s?" But no, 30 years ago it was the '90s.

[CassidyCope]

I'd totally buy Tom Scott Remastered 2020.

[Noblecorn]

Naming folders CON on my linux machine to assert dominance.

[richardsequeirateixeira]

Tom, you are correct. Some major financial institutions in the UK and US still need to use OS/2 for their computing needs.

[kelvin]

You've basically made everyone try name a file CON, good job

[ThisFinalHandle]

Cons and pros of modern windows file convention.
Pro: you can use punctuation.
Con: you still can't use con.

[PhantomSavage]

Ironic that Windows is so cautious in making any changes that could affect the backwards compatibility of important documents, yet they seem to break my PC with almost every update they put out with pleasure.

[chloewebb]

This is the exact reason why I always use some version of windows and have never switched to mac, even though I love the workflow that my friend has setup on her mac when producing audio and doing art projects. I am constantly hooking up old junk and using super old audio devices with very old cables, and its nice to be able to still hook up old things to run within the new software i use. Plus when I'm bored I start pulling out all my old computers, audio mixers, synthesizers, drum machines, and all manner of random junk in my computer room, just to play with it all and mess around. It's also awesome that I can still run DOS in windows ten to play old ass video games ^^

[konchatzi]

Yea, it really sucks when it’s your name. The account user name couldn’t be Con either. Until I started using it as Kon.

[JonatasAdoM]

It's not the computing museum without that static noise your ears can't pick anymore.

[EpikoXailia]

This was honestly an amazing way to talk about a story, the script or talking points or whatever it is was just so good in my opinion. I love how you wrapped everything up and got everything related to each other at the end, just amazing 🤩

[JonToft]

I discovered this 20 years ago when I was trying to create a folder called "Con" for my converted mp3 files. Didin't know why it didn't work until now! Thanks :)

[ChristopherTradeshow]

"People don't like change"
I swear if Tom ever wears a blue shirt, I'm not watching ever again

[dorinori]

Microsoft: “Wait! Don’t change that code! What if someone needs to open their 30 year old word excel sheets!” Meanwhile at Apple: “Lmao who even uses opengl anymore?”

[TKOOO]

Thoroughly enjoyed this. I have noticed many legacy control panels in Windows 10, but I didn’t know some went all the way back to 3.1!

[mostlymagical]

I like how Tom shows all the great examples of Microsoft backwards compatibility as I sit at my desk looking at a Zune, which has nearly no compatibility with newer versions of windows.