FIX: The Cpio utility may drop the last character on symbolic links when you create or display symbolic links in Windows Services for UNIX 3.5

Consider the following scenario. You use the Cpio utility to archive files in Microsoft Windows Services for UNIX 3.5. You create or display symbolic links. In this scenario, the Cpio utility may drop the last character on the symbolic links.

This problem occurs because the Cpio utility allocates just enough buffers to fit the characters without a NULL value when the Cpio utility calls the readlink function. The readlink function adds a NULL terminator when the buffer is too small. The NULL terminator causes the last character to be dropped when the buffer is just large enough to hold all the characters.

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, submit a request to Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

To install this hotfix, you must be running Windows Services for UNIX 3.5.

Restart requirement

You do not have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: