title: Python 2.7: decode error output not utf-8 on a simple string
body: <p>When I try the following code:</p>
  
  <pre><code>a = "C:\Python27\777.xls"
  print a
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I get this error:</p>
  
  <p><code>Decode error- output not utf-8</code></p>
  
  <p>Although there are other questions which seem related, they mostly seem to be from people actually trying to encode something, whereas I am just trying to make sure my file path does not error out when I call it. </p>
  
  <p>How can I fix it?</p>