\\?\ prefix explained

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boardtc
Posts: 2
Joined: 12. Nov 2008, 02:26

\\?\ prefix explained

Post by boardtc »

Sorry if this is a FAQ but I can't find the answer.

in Settings|Shared Folders the Path begins with \\?\ followed by the windows path.

Can someone explain what \\?\ means?

Thanks!
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39134
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: \\?\ prefix explained

Post by mpack »

That is a Windows question, not a VirtualBox question.

That prefix is how Windows indicates that the path refers to a device rather than a disk file.

I wish you'd provided a usable reference to whatever document you're looking at, but if you are looking at how to set up a raw disk then don't bother unless you have an excellent reason - of which there are few. It will be slower than a VDI, not faster. Plus it's an experts only feature: so if you need to ask what "\\?\" means then you probably need to steer well clear.
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