.net install bug

Trying to install the .net framework 1.1 setup program so I can then install intravnews on the laptop. However when I try to run the program I get the error message “Error 1325.’andrew.helsby’ is not a valid short file name.” The filename referred to is my username on the computer. A search in google does not help as there are lots of similar problems but no definite answer on how to fix it. Ironically the solution in technet is that its a fault in the msi file and that a patch should be installed on the pc of the producer of the msi file!
Update By logging on as another user on the computer I was able to install the patch. The weird thing is that the other user also doesn’t fit the 8.3 username format either.