Long Filenames not honored in XP by downloaded apps

[Alice]

When I download an application from the internet - e.g.,
Symantec's Intelligent updater virus definitions (which
have a very long name), the application cannot find
itself, and gives an error "Cannot find file C:\docume~1
\... (using Dos substitution for the actual path)... and
fails to run.

If I rename the downloaded application with an 8.3 name,
it will run.

Microsoft says this has to do with long filenames not
being recognized... and is "working on the problem."

My question is: Where, in XP, can I check the Long
Filenames settings and change them - short of editing the
registry?

 

[Taurarian]

You'll have to check the registry, get someone to assist if necessary:


If you are using Windows NT/2000/XP and have it set to use NTFS, a registry
value that determines whether NTFS generates a short file name in the 8.3 naming
convention for each long file name must be set to 0. This setting is the default
setting when you install the operating system. If this registry value is set to
1, NTFS will not create the short file name.
It is possible that this value could have been changed - either manually or by a
program..
To check the registry key and change it if necessary:
1. Click Start>Run.
2. Type regedit and then click OK.
3. Navigate to the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Filesystem
4. In the right hand pane, right-click the following value, and then click
Modify:
NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation
5. Change the number in the Value data box to: 0
Please note that this is a DWORD value, not a String or Binary value.
6. Click OK.
7. Click Registry, and then click Exit.