Error Message Occurs When You Install Firewall Client

When you try to install Microsoft Firewall Client, you may receive the following error message:

This issue can occur if the 8.3 file name creation functionality has been disabled.

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 issue, enable the 8.3 file name creation functionality for files and folders on NTFS file system partitions:

1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
2. Locate the NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation entry under the following key in the registry:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem
   NOTE: By default, the value for this entry is set to 0.
   
   
3. On the Edit menu, click DWORD, type 0 in the Data box, and then click OK.
4. Quit Registry Editor.
5. Restart your computer.
6. Delete the Microsoft Firewall Client folder that is located in the Windows_folder:\Program Files\Microsoft Firewall Client folder.
7. Reinstall Firewall Client.

When you disable 8.3 name creation functionality, file performance increases in Microsoft Windows NT. However, some 16-bit folders may not be able to find files and folders with long file names. Firewall Client is a 32-bit program. The Setup program for the client is a 32-bit program as well, with the exception of a few files including Setup_a.exe.

For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: