Installing VMware Tools fails with the error: Error 1325. Documents is not a valid short file name

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• Installing VMware Tools fails
  
• You see the error:
  
  Error 1325. Documents is not a valid short file name
  
  
• The vminst.log (located in C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Temp) contains the error:
  
  MSI (c) (B8:EC) [21:09:08:562]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Adding PROGRAM_MENU_VMWARE_TOOLS property. Its value is 'C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\VMware\VMware Tools\'.
MSI (c) (B8:EC) [21:09:08:562]: Note: 1: 2303 2: 53 3: file://sbs/K/
MSI (c) (B8:EC) [21:09:08:562]: Note: 1: 1325 2: Documents
DEBUG: Error 2835: The control ErrorIcon was not found on dialog SetupError
Internal Error 2835. ErrorIcon, SetupError
Error 1325.Documents is not a valid short file name.
MSI (c) (B8:EC) [21:09:14:656]: Product: VMware Tools -- Error 1325.Documents is not a valid short file name.

Environment

VMware ESXi 3.5.x Embedded
VMware ESXi 3.5.x Installable
VMware ESX 4.1.x
VMware ESX Server 3.0.x
VMware ESXi 4.1.x Installable
VMware ESXi 4.0.x Installable
VMware ESX 4.0.x
VMware ESX Server 3.5.x
VMware ESXi 4.1.x Embedded
VMware ESXi 4.0.x Embedded

Cause

This issue occurs if the path to the My Documents folder is incorrect.

Resolution

To resolve this issue, update the default location of the My Documents folder.

The steps to update the default location vary by Windows operating system. These example steps are for Windows XP:

1. Click Start, then navigate to My Documents.
2. Right-click My Documents, and click Properties.
   
3. Click the Target tab.
   
4. In the Target field, perform one of these options:
   
   
   • Enter the path to the folder location (C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents), then click OK.
     
   • Click Restore Default.
     

After updating the default location, you must also change the path in the registry.

To update the registry:

Note: Before making any registry modifications, ensure that you have a current and valid backup of the registry and the virtual machine. For more information on backing up and restoring the registry, see the Microsoft article 136393.

1. Click Start > Run, type regedit, and click OK.
   
2. Navigate to:
   
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
   
   
3. Change the My Documents path to:
   
   C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents
   
   Note: In Windows 7, Windows 2008, and Windows Vista, change the My Documents path to %userprofile%\My Document.