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Q82786: System Hangs After Installing Windows or Windows Application

Article: Q82786
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.1,3.11
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 02-OCT-1999

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows versions 3.1, 3.11 
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SUMMARY
=======

If your system hangs while rebooting after installing Windows 3.1 or a Windows
application, the MS-DOS path may be too long. Windows and Windows applications
frequently add their directory to the path. Under some versions of MS-DOS, such
as MS-DOS 4.01 or Compaq DOS 3.31, a PATH statement longer than 127 characters
can cause the system to lock up during system startup.

If this problem occurs, either start the computer by booting from a system disk
in drive A, or press CTRL+C (or CTRL+BREAK) before the PATH statement is reached
in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

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

If the path is very close to 127 characters, and the current Windows directory
entry in the path is not preceded with the drive designation (for example,
PATH=\DOS;\WINDOWS;...), Windows will add the C: to the Windows directory entry
in the path.

Additional query words: 3.10

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWin3xSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin310 kbWin311
Version           : WINDOWS:3.1,3.11

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