When trying to unzip the file downloaded from the Blender Foundation, named blender-4.4.0-alpha+npr-prototype.fa2bb3267c56-windows.amd64-release, on Windows, you may encounter the error 0x80010135: Path Too Long. This error occurs when the full path of the file, which includes both folders and the file name, exceeds the maximum length allowed by the operating system.
Why does this error occur?
In previous versions of Windows, the maximum path length was limited to 260 characters. This means that if a file or folder has a path that exceeds this limit, Windows cannot properly handle the extraction or access to the file, resulting in the mentioned error.
This problem is common when unzipping files with deep folder structures or long file names, such as those found in some applications or game engines, like Blender Goo Engine.
Solutions to resolve the error
1. Extract the file to a folder with a shorter path
The simplest and quickest solution to avoid the "path too long" error is to extract the files to a shorter path. This can be done by moving the compressed file to a folder at the root of your drive, where the path length will be much shorter.
- Create a new folder at the root of your drive, for example C:\Blender.
- Move the file
blender-4.4.0-alpha+npr-prototype.fa2bb3267c56-windows.amd64-releaseto that folder. - Extract the files there.
Once the files have been extracted successfully, you can move them to your preferred final location without issues.
2. Avoid Windows SmartScreen when running the program
If, after unzipping, you see a Windows Defender SmartScreen warning when trying to run the program, you can resolve this issue by following these steps:
- Click on the "More info" link in the SmartScreen warning.
- Select "Run anyway" to allow the program to run without restrictions.
Note: This step is necessary when the operating system detects the file as potentially dangerous due to its origin or file type, but if you trust the software, you can proceed safely.
Solution to the problem
The 0x80010135 error related to long paths is a common issue when trying to unzip files on Windows. The most effective solution is to extract the files to a folder with a shorter path to avoid the operating system hitting the character limit. Additionally, to run programs like Blender Goo Engine, it is important to avoid Windows SmartScreen, which may block the execution of downloaded programs.