Windows NT 3.51 SP4 Allows Extended Characters in 8.3 File Names

 Last reviewed: March 24, 1997
Article ID: Q143166

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 3.51

SUMMARY

Prior to Windows NT version 3.51 and Service Pack 4, 8.3 convention file names on an NTFS volume were limited to the standard ASCII character set (minus some reserved characters). Extended characters, such as foreign accent characters were not available. With Service Pack 4, a registry setting can be configured so NTFS can use extended characters in the 8.3 short file name.

With this feature enabled, the 8.3 short file names have the same behavior as in Windows NT 3.1, before the support for long file names was added.

MORE INFORMATION

To enable the use of extended characters in the 8.3 convention file names on a NTFS volume: 

   WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system-
   wide problems that may require you to reinstall Windows NT to correct
   them. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the
   use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use this tool at your own risk.

  • Run Registry Editor (REGEDT32.EXE).

  • From the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE subtree, go to the following key: 

          \SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem

  • Add a new value to this key: 

          Value:      NtfsAllowExtendedCharacterIn8dot3Name
      Data Type:  REG_DWORD
      Data Value: 0x1
    To enable extended characters, set the data value 0x1. To disable extended characters, set the data value 0x0 or remove the value from the key.

    STATUS

    Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 3.51. This problem was corrected in the latest Windows NT 3.51 U.S. Service Pack. For information on obtaining the Service Pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces): 

       S E R V P A C K

    • Additional query words: prodnt
    Keywords : kbbug3.51 kbfix3.51.sp4 kbother ntconfig ntfilesys ntregistry
    Version : 3.51
    Platform : WinNT

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    Last reviewed: March 24, 1997
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