KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q103032: PRB: "RUN/! Command Failed" with Windows NT

Article: Q103032
Product(s): Microsoft FoxPro
Version(s): 2.50 2.50a 2.50b 2.60 3.00
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kberrmsg
Last Modified: 03-AUG-1999

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

- Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, version 3.0 
- Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, versions 2.5, 2.5a, 2.5b, 2.6 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

When you are running FoxPro for Windows under the Microsoft Windows NT operating
system, the error message "RUN/! command failed" occurs when you are using the
RUN command to execute an MS-DOS command.

CAUSE
=====

When the FoxPro RUN command is used without the /N parameter, FoxPro will stop
execution and wait until the RUN command has completed successfully and the
MS-DOS session is closed. However, because Windows NT is a preemptive
multitasking operating system, it switches control back and forth between FoxPro
and the RUN command. This can cause FoxPro to time out while it is waiting for
the RUN command to complete.

NOTE: This problem affects the SetupWizard in the FoxPro Distribution Kit, which
also uses a RUN command, causing it to fail at the point where compression
starts.


RESOLUTION
==========

Use the /N parameter on the RUN command to stop FoxPro from waiting for the RUN
command to complete. The following is an example of using the RUN command with
the /N parameter to execute FOXRUN.PIF. This example also uses the /C parameter
to send a specific command to the command shell.

     RUN /N FOXRUN.PIF /C DIR


STATUS
======

This behavior is by design.

Additional query words: VFoxWin FoxWin 2.50 winnt multi-task errmsg err msg setup wizard dk

======================================================================
Keywords          : kberrmsg 
Technology        : kbVFPsearch kbAudDeveloper kbFoxproSearch kbFoxPro260 kbFoxPro250 kbFoxPro250a kbFoxPro250b kbVFP300
Version           : 2.50 2.50a 2.50b 2.60 3.00

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

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.