Here's a simple example. Is there a way to do achieve this effect? std::string folderName = "C:\\*.sys"; boost::filesystem::path fsDirectoryPath = boost::filesystem::system_complete( boost::filesystem::path(folderName, boost::filesystem::native)); boost::filesystem::directory_iterator end_iter; for (boost::filesystem::directory_iterator dir_itr(fsDirectoryPath); dir_itr != end_iter; ++dir_itr) // throws exception { std::cout << "Contains the following file: " << dir_itr->string() << std::endl; } // end for When I do this, I get the following exception: boost::filesystem::basic_directory_iterator constructor I don't see any documentation for how to narrow your searches with wildcards or how to only find files that match a particular file name. Am I missing something? Obviously you can refine your search later in the loop, but that is inefficient. Please let me know. Thanks, Lawrence