Unable to Delete Folders with Non-Standard MS-DOS Names
Article ID: 201129
Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 1
- Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 2
- Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 3
- Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4
This article was previously published under Q201129
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you
modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore
the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the
registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry
SYMPTOMS
When you try to use Windows NT Explorer to delete a folder on a shared resource, you may be unable to delete the folder if its name does not comply with the MS-DOS 8.3 naming convention. This includes file names that contain spaces or are longer than eight characters plus a three-character file extension.
CAUSE
This behavior can occur when you configure the NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation value in the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem
You can also configure this setting through System Policies under "Default Computer\Windows NT System\File system\Do not create 8.3 file names for long file names."
RESOLUTION
WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may
require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve
problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own
risk.
To resolve this problem:
- Start Regedt32.exe and locate the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem key.
- Double-click the NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation value.
- Type 0 in the
Data box.
- Click OK, and then quit Regedt32.exe.
- Quit Windows NT, and then turn off your computer.
- Turn on your computer, and then restart Windows NT.
To work around this problem, use any of the following methods:
- Use Windows NT Explorer to delete the folder locally on the server on which it resides.
- Use File Manager to delete the folder remotely or locally.
- Type a command at the command prompt to delete the folder remotely or locally.
Additional query words: policy
Keywords: kbprb KB201129