$InstDir with GetFullPathName /SHORT question

[coderwolf]

Originally Posted by Anders

Short paths should only be used for compatibility with 16-bit programs and buggy applications. Short name generation can be turned off so not every filename will have one...

This is an auto-configuration wrapper for a DOS emulation program. I am getting the path in a way that the DOS emulator would know what it is in the main OS(windows 7). This information is (in the installer process) written to its config file as a "mounted" drive.

Originally Posted by aerDNA

You can check for NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation. It doesn't tell you the state at the time an existing dir was created but it can tell you whether you'll be able to create new short paths. It should only be used when it can't be avoided, that much is for sure

As you can see from what my main goal is above, it is unavoidable. After a bit of investigation, under windows 7 "NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation" is a volume based setting. I have looked at it and it is on for the volume in question. As for your earlier idea about it being a directory that has not been created at that point in time, I will have to investigate that further.