Why can't we use some characters in file names?

Question

Why is it that we can't use ( \ / -) and some other characters in file names. Does it have anything to do with the internal system of the computer). And by the way i haven't used Windows Vista Yet , so my question is for XP.TNX

Answer 1

The filesystem wont allow it and the local wont allow it since many filesystems still use ANSI.

Filesystems other than FAT\ntfs will allow such filename...like ext or hfs..

Answer 2

All windows operating systems disallow those characters because, they are system variables, and path definitions. For example, when you open a file the address is

C:\Users\Username\My Documents\bla.file

by putting \ in that folder name, you confuse the windows file browser!