Long file path issues in Windows 11 Pro with Microsoft VS Code and File Explorer

Anonymous
2022-05-04T22:27:47+00:00

I spent way too long debugging a compile error in MS VS Code (64bit version 1.66.2). It would fail with 'file not found' or 'unable to access file' errors. The workspace is located in "C:\Users\UserName\Documents\My Workspaces\firmware", with several levels of nested source folders below.

Initially, I got several linking errors due to Controlled Folder Access protection using the Ransomware protection built-in to Windows Security. I whitelisted ar.exe and as. exe, but the errors persisted. I even turned off Ransomware protection. Seeing a thread online about long file paths reminded me I hadn't enabled that on Windows 11 yet (fresh install), so I changed the following settings and rebooted the PC:
Registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem\LongPathsEnabled set to 1.

Group Policy: System "Configuration>Administrative Templates>System>Filesystem>Enable Win32 long paths" enabled.

About that time I noticed an issue with not being able to delete or rename files on an SMB share that were in a deep path. If I went to the other system and moved them up a few folders I was again able to rename the files.

Both of these scenarios work fine from my Windows 10 Pro PC. My Windows 11 Pro PC is a fresh install (Version 21H2 Build 22000.613).

So I believe Windows 11 isn't respecting my Long Paths settings. As a final test, I moved my VS Code Workspace folder to system drive root (C:\firmware) and it compiled without error.

I've seen other questions on here about Windows 11 path length issues that were brushed away because they were encountered using non-Microsoft 3rd Party software, but this is all built-in File Explorer and Microsoft's own VS Code product.

My question is, how do I actually allow long file paths in Windows 11 Pro?

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-04-06T16:52:34+00:00

    setting the DWORD registry key is a trap. It'll put your machine into a bad state if you're running win11.

    The correct way to enable long path support on windows 11 is to only use the GPEDIT technique.

    I suggest resetting both back to default. reboot. Then try the GPEDIT technique.

    The GPEDIT method will change the DWORD in the registry to a non-zero value. I suspect there's other housekeeping GPEDIT does for the modification and I guess it skips it if the DWORD is already set.

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-04-06T16:14:54+00:00

    i've sat both the GPEDIT and REGEDIT to 1 for enabling the long paths, but both didn't worked for me.

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-04-06T15:41:04+00:00

    Highlight all the text below that is in a different font (use right click mouse on the blank line below, move mouse down until all that text is highlighted)

    :fred

md o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o1234_ThisIs100bytes

cd o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o1234_ThisIs100bytes

md o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o1234_ThisIs200bytes

cd o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o1234_ThisIs200bytes

md o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o1234_ThisIs300bytes

cd o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o1234_ThisIs300bytes

md o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o1234_ThisIs400bytes

cd o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o123456789o1234_ThisIs400bytes

    press CTRL+C to copy to clip board. (highlight will dissappear)

    press [windows key+R], type notepad, press Enter key, this will launch notepad

    press CTRL+V, this will paste the text into notepad window.

    Now attempt to save the notepad file to a folder of your choice. I strongly suggest you figure out

    how to save to the desktop folder. Use the default name it suggests: fred

    press [windows key+R], type CMD, press Enter key, this will launch a console window

    type the text below and hit Enter:

    cd Desktop

    type the text below and hit Enter:

    move fred.txt fred.bat

    type the text below and hit enter:

    fred.bat

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-04-06T11:34:45+00:00

    Hi,

    Can you please explain as to how do I run this command in steps?

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  5. Anonymous
    2023-03-21T03:59:46+00:00

    I am unable to install TensorFlow due to this.

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