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Q119365: Runtime Error 6009 - Default Environment Size

Article: Q119365
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): 
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 08-AUG-2001

3.10 3.50

WINDOWS

kb3rdparty kbinterop

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 3.1 
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 3.1 
- Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server, version 3.1 
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 3.5 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 3.5. 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When you run an MS-DOS - based application that requires a large amount of
environment space, such as a compiler, you may encounter Runtime Error 6009.

CAUSE
=====

This error occurs when there are not enough bytes allocated for the
environment.

The default environment size for MS-DOS - based applications running under
Windows NT is 256 bytes. Windows NT sets up many more variables than an average
MS-DOS operating system usually does and can quickly meet the default size. The
following list is an example of default variables after you install Windows NT
over MS-DOS:

  COMSPEC
  COMPUTERNAME
  HOMEDRIVE
  HOMEPATH
  MOUSE
  OS
  OS2LIBPATH
  PATH
  PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE
  PROCESSOR_LEVEL
  PROMPT
  SYSTEMROOT
  TEMP
  USERDOMAIN
  USERNAME
  WINDIR

WORKAROUND
==========

The environment size can be adjusted from the command line or in a .BAT or .CMD
file in the SYSTEM32 directory by adding the following line:

  COMMAND /E:XXXX

Additionally, you can use the /P parameter to make the new command interpreter
permanent, and you can use the /C parameter to run a specific program after
initiating Command.

The environment can also be changed by adding the following line to the CONFIG.NT
file in the SYSTEM32 subdirectory

  SHELL=%SYSTEMROOT%\SYSTEM32\COMMAND.COM /E:SIZE /P

where "SIZE" is the maximum length in bytes you want COMMAND.COM to allocate for
each program.

The maximum size for the environment is 32768 bytes.

REFERENCES
==========

For more information about the Windows NT command prompt and commands for the
MS-DOS and Windows NT subsystems, please see Chapter 9 of the Windows NT "System
Guide."

Additional query words: prodnt 3.10 err msg
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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNT350search kbWinNTW350 kbWinNTW350search kbWinNTW310 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS310 kbWinNTAdvSerSearch kbWinNTAdvServ310 kbWinNTS310search kbWinNT310Search kbWinNTW310Search

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