Q61925: The Effect of Replacement Parameters in PATH Statement

Article: Q61925
Product(s): Microsoft Disk Operating System
Version(s): MS-DOS:3.x,4.x,5.x,6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 17-DEC-2000

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 3.1, 3.2, 3.21, 3.3, 3.3a, 4.0, 4.01, 5.0, 5.0a, 6.0, 6.2, 6.21, 6.22 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

You may receive the "Incorrect DOS Version" error if you execute an MS-DOS
command (MODE, for example) and your AUTOEXEC.BAT file has two PATH statements
similar to the following:

     PATH=C:\DOS;
     PATH=C:\P3;%PATH%

Recopying the MODE.COM file from your MS-DOS floppy disk to your DOS subdirectory
does not correct the error.

CAUSE
=====

This problem occurs because MS-DOS is looking for the command in the wrong
directory.

RESOLUTION
==========

To correct this problem, you need to rewrite your PATH statement.

MORE INFORMATION
================

When your AUTOEXEC.BAT file is run, the path is set to C:\DOS (the DOS
subdirectory). When it executes the second path statement (PATH=C:\P3;%PATH%),
the path is reset to C:\P3 (the P3 subdirectory) and the C:\DOS path is appended
to this. When the AUTOEXEC.BAT file is finished running, your path is set to
C:\P3;C:\DOS, in this order.

When you issue a command (in this case, the MODE command) with the above path
set, MS-DOS searches the current directory. If the command isn't found in the
current directory, MS-DOS searches the P3 subdirectory. If the command still
isn't found, MS-DOS searches the MS-DOS subdirectory.

The "Incorrect DOS version" error occurs because there is a MODE command in your
P3 subdirectory. When the MODE command is issued, MS-DOS is finding the MODE
command in the P3 subdirectory rather than the MODE command in the DOS
subdirectory. To avoid this, you can do either of the following:

- Combine the two PATH statements so that one of them reads as follows

        PATH=C:\DOS;C:\P3;

  then delete the second PATH statement.

-or-

- Change the second PATH statement to read as follows:

        PATH=%PATH%;C:\P3

Either of these solutions forces MS-DOS to search the DOS subdirectory before the
P3 subdirectory.

Additional query words: 6.22 3.2x 3.30 3.30a 4.00 4.00a 4.01 5.00 5.00a 6.00 6.20 \* yeswin4

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS321 kbMSDOS400 kbMSDOS320 kbMSDOS330a kbMSDOS621 kbMSDOS622 kbMSDOS620 kbMSDOS600 kbMSDOS310 kbMSDOS500 kbMSDOS330 kbMSDOS401 kbMSDOS500a
Version           : MS-DOS:3.x,4.x,5.x,6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1986-2002.