Crash when trying to open a Windows image with a path > 256 charactersΒ #2777
Description
Checklist
- I have been made aware that if my problem can be summarized as "I've created or tried to create a media using Rufus, and ...", and I am not including a log, this issue will be summarily closed.
- I looked at https://github.com/pbatard/rufus/wiki/FAQ to see if my question has already been answered.
- I performed a search in the issue tracker for similar issues using keywords relevant to my problem, such as the error message I got from the log.
- I clicked the 'Log' button (ποΈ) or pressed Ctrl-L in Rufus, or used DebugView, and copy/pasted the log into the section that says
<FULL LOG>below. - The log I am copying is the FULL log, starting with the line
Rufus version: x.y.z- I have NOT removed any part of it.
Additionally (if applicable):
- I ran a bad blocks check, by clicking Show advanced format options then Check device for bad blocks, and confirmed that my USB is not defective.
- I also tried one or more of the following:
- Using a different USB drive.
- Plugging the USB into a different port.
- Running Rufus on a different computer.
- If using an image, I clicked on the
(β)button to compute the MD5, SHA1 and SHA256 checksums, which are therefore present in the log I copied. I confirmed, by performing an internet search, that these values match the ones from the official image.
Issue description
Since the release of Rufus 4.8, long paths to ISO files are causing issues. If the path length is >= 240, the WUE dialog does not appear (because the path to the WIM file gets truncated). If the path length is >= 260, the program crashes immediately after opening the file (the log is not saved). I believe this is related to the MAX_PATH limitation. Extended path lengths have been supported in Windows for 9 years already - this limitation should be removed in Rufus.
Log (no WUE dialog)
Rufus x64 v4.9.2256 (Portable)
Windows version: Windows 11 Pro x64 (Build 26100.4484)
Syslinux versions: 4.07/2013-07-25, 6.04/pre1
Grub versions: 0.4.6a, 2.12
System locale ID: 0x0419 (ru-RU)
Will use default UI locale 0x0419
SetLGP: Successfully set NoDriveTypeAutorun policy to 0x0000009E
Localization set to 'ru-RU'
Notice: The ISO download feature has been deactivated because 'Check for updates' is disabled in your settings.
Found USB 2.0 device 'Samsung Flash Drive USB Device' (090C:1000)
NOTE: This device is a USB 3.0 device operating at lower speed...
1 device found
Disk type: Removable, Disk size: 128 ΠΠ, Sector size: 512 bytes
Cylinders: 15600, Tracks per cylinder: 255, Sectors per track: 63
Partition type: GPT, NB Partitions: 2
Disk GUID: {CAB8E5E1-1E6F-4542-8468-46DCAFBEE271}
Max parts: 128, Start Offset: 17408, Usable = 128320767488 bytes
Partition 1:
Type: Microsoft Basic Data Partition
Name: 'Main Data Partition'
Detected File System: NTFS
ID: {5154567F-CEBB-42BF-97AB-B70A403CFBDD}
Size: 119.5 GB (128318623744 bytes)
Start Sector: 2048, Attributes: 0x0000000000000000
Partition 2 (UEFI:NTFS):
Type: Microsoft Basic Data Partition
Name: 'UEFI:NTFS'
Detected File System: FAT12
ID: {9294B416-26CB-43D0-B032-0EABE9D8CF13}
Size: 1 MB (1064448 bytes)
Start Sector: 250624395, Attributes: 0x9000000000000000
Scanning image...
ISO analysis:
Image is a UDF image
Can't open "E:\Downloads\Software\Microsoft Windows 11 10.0.26100.4652 24H2 July 2025 test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test\windows_11_24h2_x64_test test test test test test test test test test test test test test.iso|/sources/install" read-only
WARNING: Could not get WIM version: Error 47
Disk image analysis:
Image does not have a Boot Marker
Can't open "E:\Downloads\Software\Microsoft Windows 11 10.0.26100.4652 24H2 July 2025 test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test\windows_11_24h2_x64_test test test test test test test test test test test test test test.iso|sources/install." read-only
Could not open WIM: Error 47
UEFI bootloaders analysis:
β’ /bootmgr.efi*
Signed by 'Microsoft Windows Production PCA 2011'
Note: This bootloader may fail Secure Boot validation on systems that
have been updated to use the 'Windows UEFI CA 2023' certificate.
β’ /efi/boot/bootx64.efi*
Signed by 'Microsoft Windows Production PCA 2011'
Note: This bootloader may fail Secure Boot validation on systems that
have been updated to use the 'Windows UEFI CA 2023' certificate.
ISO label: 'CPBA_X64FRE_RU-RU_DV9'
Size: 6.3 ΠΠ (Projected)
Has a >4GB file
Uses: EFI
Uses: Bootmgr (BIOS and UEFI)
Uses: Install.wim (version 0.0.0)
Using image: windows_11_24h2_x64_test test test test test test test test test test test test test test.iso (6.3 ΠΠ)