Windows 2000/XP may not display files and folders in Long File name format

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Sometimes, Windows 2000 and Windows XP will not display files in the Long File format i.e., A folder named Program Files may be listed as Program~.

This could happen if the registry value that determines whether NTFS generates a short file name in the 8.3 naming convention for each long file name is reset to “0″. It is possible that this value could have been changed - either manually or by a program. This setting is the default setting when you install the operating system. The registry value should be set to “1″ to stop NTFS creating the short file name.

WARNING:You are editing the registry at your own risk. I will not be responsible for any 

malfunction or data loss that this may cause to your system

To check the registry key and change it if necessary:

1. Click Start - Run, type REGEDIT and click OK.

2. Navigate to,

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Filesystem]HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

\SYSTEM

\CurrentControlSet

\Control

\Filesystem

3. In the right hand pane, right-click the following value, and then click Modify:

NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation

4. Change the number in the Value data box to: “0″

5. Click OK.

7. Close the Windows registry and restart the computer.

This should help.