SubscribeKeeping support available for old 16-bit applications that use the 8.3 filename format can degrade performance of your Windows Vista system. Here’s how to disable it.
Disable 8.3 filename support for the future
1. Click the Start orb and type REGEDIT in the Start Search area.
2. Open the Registry Editor.
3. Click the plus sign next to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
then SYSTEM
then CurrentControlSet
then Control
then click FileSystem
4. On the right side, double-click on NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation and give it a value of 1. Click OK.
5. Close the Registry Editor.
Disable 8.3 filename support for current files
1. Press SHIFT+F10 to open a Command Prompt.
2. Type:
fsutil.exe behavior set disable8dot3 1
and press ENTER.
When you restart your computer, the old 16-bit 8.3 filenames will no longer be supported and your Windows Vista system will run faster.
See also:
How to Disable the 8.3 Name Creation on NTFS Partitions
by mudstick, on January 30 2008 @ 3:14 pm
Ok so you disable 16 bit legacy names so now how you gonna run some real useful apps like that rely on 16 bit names ?
I would say you are telling people to give up stability for a very minor increase in speed
by Me, on December 3 2008 @ 1:41 pm
Name one app that relies on 8dot3 names that I really want to run on my 64bit OS ?
by Zkrieger, on January 8 2009 @ 1:11 pm
Your 64bit OS relies on 8.3 names for its services to run. windows installed and created 8.3 names for every folder it uses, and it continues to use the 8.3 names in the registry, services, etc.
clone your machine into a VM with that registry setting set, and you will see first hand the need. the VM will generate tons of errors if it works at all.
by Larry Miller, on February 2 2009 @ 6:12 pm
This setting may indeed improve file system performance, although probably not much. But it is not without it’s problems. DOS and 16 bit application rely on these names and will probably fail. This is not an issue on 64 bit systems as they do not support 16 bit applications anyway. But even some relatively recent 32 bit applications still require short names. Also, the effects of this setting are not easily reversed. SO be careful.
Larry Miller
Microsoft MCSA
by Christopher, on April 15 2009 @ 1:53 pm
Actually, NO 32-bit application needs ’short names’. The 8.3 filenames will STILL work in Windows Vista or Windows 7 in 32-bit or 64-bit IF the application calls on that actual 8.3 name. If it is calling for an 8.3 name like khlhll~1…. then it won’t work, but NO 32-bit application should be doing that, unless it’s…. bluntly, a crappy application that you shouldn’t be running in the first place.
by Chad, on December 22 2009 @ 2:28 pm
I remember Norton 2003 ish actually required 8dot3 names! That’s the last app I ever had problems with when disabling 8dot3. And I stay well clear now of anything with Norton.