I believe this is what's happening here.
The Application Data folder is Hidden by default, and its Microsoft subfolder is a System folder by default, both of which VFP is blind to.
IOW, VFP ignores them when checking for directory existence.

When VFP is given the command to make a directory whose parent directories don't exist, it attempts to create the whole tree. In this case, having ignored the the Application Data/Microsoft folders, it tries to create them, giving the error.


>To All,
>
>I have just recently run across a problem with the MD command in VFP that perplexes me, which means I must be missing something obvious.
>
>If I issue the following in the command window:
>

>MD "C:\test1\test2\test3\test4"
>

>The entire directory structure is created.
>
>However, if I enter something along these lines:
>

>MD "C:\Documents and Settings\SomeUser\Application Data\test1\test2\test3\test4\test5"
>

>I get an error saying "A subdirectory or file c:\documents and settings\someuser\application data\test1\test2\test3\test4\test5\ already exists."
>
>I find this behavior extremely strange and am completely at a loss.
>
>Some information that may help:
>

>
• This behavior can be duplicated in VFP7 SP1 and VFP8.
  >
• It doesn't matter whether it is a Windows 2000 Professional or Windows XP Professional OS. (Same behavior)
  >
• The "SomeUser" I used above is the user I am currently logged in as, so there aren't any special security privileges/restrictions.
  >

>From what I can tell, it only seems to happen if the SomeUser directory exists. For instance if I issue:
>

>MD "C:\Documents and Settings\Test New User\Application Data\test1\test2\test3\test4\test5\"
>

>everything works ok.
>
>Any help on this matter will be very appreciated.
>
>TIA,
>
>Travis