Q88091: Windows Only Starts from Windows Directory
Article: Q88091
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.1,3.11
Operating System(s):
Keyword(s):
Last Modified: 25-SEP-1999
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Windows versions 3.1, 3.11
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
=======
If Windows starts from the Windows directory but not from another directory,
such as the root directory, then one or more of the following conditions may
exist:
- There are multiple WIN.COM files. For example, WIN.COM file has been copied
to the root directory of the boot drive.
- A batch file is being used to start Windows.
- There is a pathing problem.
- Incompatible files are present in the current directory or path.
MORE INFORMATION
================
Make sure you are starting Windows by typing "WIN" (without the quotation marks)
instead of using a batch file to start Windows.
Edit the AUTOEXEC.BAT file and make WINDOWS the first directory in your PATH=
statement. This usually resolves any pathing problems.
Windows requires that certain file are in the same directory as the WIN.COM file.
To search for multiple WIN.COM files or a batch file that is attempting to start
Windows from another directory:
1. Run File Manager.
2. From the File menu, choose Search.
3. In the Search For box, type "WIN.COM" (without the quotation marks) to search
for multiple WIN.COM files or "WIN.BAT" (without the quotation marks) to
search for a batch file that might start Windows.
4. Make sure the Start From text box contains C:\ and that the Search All
Subdirectories check box is selected.
If you are using MS-DOS 5.0 or later, you can search for these files using the
DIR command.
1. Change to the root directory by typing the following at the MS-DOS command
prompt:
cd \
2. Type the following command to check for duplicate WIN.COM files:
dir win.com /s
3. Type the following command to check for a batch file called WIN.BAT:
dir win.bat /s
These commands will list all WIN.COM and WIN.BAT files on the current hard drive.
If you have more than one WIN.COM file, delete all the extra ones, leaving just
one WIN.COM file on the hard drive in the WINDOWS directory.
If you find a WIN.BAT file, rename it to something else, such as GOWIN.BAT.
Rename the file WINSTART.BAT because Windows treats this as a special file to be
read after starting Windows.
If you have tried all of the above, and Windows will start from the WINDOWS
directory, but it won't start from another directory such as the root directory,
you probably have incompatible device drivers in the directory from which
Windows will not start. To correct this problem, compare a directory listing of
the Windows directory with the directory from which Windows will not start, and
look for duplicate files (or device drivers) such as MOUSE.DRV, LMOUSE.DRV,
VGA.DRV, VGA.3GR, and so on.
Additional query words: 3.00 3.10
======================================================================
Keywords :
Technology : kbWin3xSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin310 kbWin311
Version : WINDOWS:3.1,3.11
=============================================================================
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.