[Python] How to properly escape UNC paths for string literals in Python while avoiding double...

I'm working on a Python function that converts Windows file paths to UNC extended-length format and properly escapes them for string literal representation in configuration files. However, I'm running into issues with detecting existing UNC prefixes and avoiding double-escaping.

Here is what I've tried

def convert_to_unc_path(path: str) -> str:
if path.startswith(r"\\?\\"):
normalized = path
else:
normalized = r"\\?\\" + path

# Escape all backslashes for string literal representation
escaped = normalized.replace("\\", "\\\\")
return escaped


Here is my input details

input_path = r"\\?\C:\Windows\system32\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local\temp\p\package_abc123\p"
expected_path = r"\\\\?\\C:\\Windows\\system32\\config\\systemprofile\\AppData\\Local\\temp\\p\\package_abc123\\p"

result = convert_to_unc_path(input_path)
print("Input:", repr(input_path))
print("Expected:", repr(expected_path))
print("Actual:", repr(result))
print("Match:", result == expected_path)


I'm escaping it too many times? Would love some input

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