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Q71880: Cannot Find File _DEFAULT.BAT

Article: Q71880
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 17-OCT-1999

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows versions 3.0, 3.0a 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When you execute _DEFAULT.PIF from File Manager, the following error message is
displayed:

  Cannot find file, _default.bat

CAUSE
=====

This is by design.

_DEFAULT.PIF should not be manually executed from anywhere inside Windows. The
_DEFAULT.PIF file is used automatically for MS-DOS applications that do not have
a PIF. If changes are made to _DEFAULT.PIF, they are used when MS-DOS
applications without PIFs are started under Windows.

NOTE: The file referenced in the error message, _DEFAULT.BAT, does not really
exist. It is a dummy variable used as a placeholder to allow _DEFAULT.PIF to be
saved (see page 449 in the "Microsoft Windows User's Guide").

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

Please refer to page 448 of the "Microsoft Windows User's Guide" for more
information on PIFs.

Additional query words: 3.00 win30 3.00a program information file

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWin3xSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin300 kbWin300a
Version           : WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a

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