Q111706: REPLACE Error Message: "Path Not Found…"

Article: Q111706
Product(s): Microsoft Disk Operating System
Version(s): MS-DOS:5.x,6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 17-DEC-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 5.0, 5.0a, 6.0, 6.2, 6.21, 6.22 
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SYMPTOMS
========

The REPLACE command displays a "Path not found" error and does not update the
files in the destination directory.

CAUSE
=====

This error can occur if the destination directory name has an extension and you
use "." or ".." path notation in the REPLACE command line. For example, if the
destination directory is C:\TEST.DIR and you type the following command from the
C:\TEST.DIR> prompt

  " replace c:\dos\*.com ..\test.dir" (without the quotation marks)

the result is:

  Path not found - C:\TESTIR\
  No files replaced

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in MS-DOS versions 5.0, 5.0a, 6.0,
6.2, and 6.21. We are researching this problem and will post new information
here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

WORKAROUND
==========

To work around this problem, specify the complete path on the REPLACE command
line instead of using the "." or ".." notation. For example:

  replace c:\dos\*.com c:\test.dir

Additional query words: 6.22 6.20 errmsg err message pathname

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS621 kbMSDOS622 kbMSDOS620 kbMSDOS600 kbMSDOS500 kbMSDOS500a
Version           : MS-DOS:5.x,6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22

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