Err Msg: Setup Must Be Able to Create Short Filenames... (179370)

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 attempt to upgrade Microsoft Windows 95 to Windows 98 or Windows 98 Second Edition, or upgrade Windows 98 or Windows 98 Second Edition to Windows Millennium (Me), you may receive either of the following error messages:

Setup must be able to create short filenames with numeric tails for files with names longer than 8 characters. Enable this option and try running Setup again.
Long File Names Need to be Enabled.

CAUSE

This error message can occur if the NameNumericTail string value with a data value of 0 exists in the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem

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 behavior, follow these steps:

Use Registry Editor to delete the NameNumericTail string value in the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem
Restart your computer.
Run Windows Setup again.

NOTE: You may also receive this error message upgrading to Windows Me. An .inf installer is included on the Windows Me CD-ROM to change the registry key for NameNumericTail. Browse the Windows Me CD-ROM to the \tools\pssutil directory. Rightclick on Nnt.inf and install.

MORE INFORMATION

The "NameNumericTail=0" value causes the 8.3 alias for long file names not to use a numeric tail (a tilde [~] followed by a digit at the end of the file name). For example, if you add the "NameNumericTail=0" value to the registry (as documented on page 688 of the Microsoft Windows 95 Resource Kit), the 8.3 alias for the Program Files folder may be changed from Progra~1 to Programf. This can cause problems if you attempt to run or install a program that uses the Program Files folder.

For additional information about long file name support in Windows, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

142982 How Windows Generates 8.3 File Names from Long File Names