KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q230340: "PATH Too Long" Error Installing Windows 95/98 Client on WinNT

Article: Q230340
Product(s): Microsoft SNA Server
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.0,3.0SP1,3.0SP2,3.0SP3,4.0,4.0SP1,4.0SP2
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbsna400sp3fix
Last Modified: 08-MAY-2002

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

- Microsoft SNA Server, versions 3.0, 3.0SP1, 3.0SP2, 3.0SP3, 4.0, 4.0SP1, 4.0SP2 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


SYMPTOMS
========

The following error dialog box may be displayed when you install the SNA Server
client for Windows 95/98 on a Windows NT system:

  Setup Message

  The PATH statement in your Autoexec.bat file is too long for Setup to modify.

  Before your new software will run correctly, you must edit the Autoexec.bat
  file manually to add the following folder to your PATH statement:

  C:\SNA95\SYSTEM

NOTE: The actual statement to add to the PATH statement will depend on the PATH
that was specified in the Windows 95/98 client Setup program.

Clicking the OK button on the error dialog box allows the Windows 95/98 client
Setup to continue. Setup will complete normally despite the fact that the PATH
could not be modified.

If the Windows 95/98 client is being installed using an unattended installation
method, this error dialog box causes Setup to stop until the error dialog box is
acknowledged.

CAUSE
=====

The "PATH Too Long" error occurs when the PATH statement on the Windows NT
system exceeds 200 characters or will exceed 200 characters when the path for
the Windows 95/98 client is added to the existing PATH statement.

RESOLUTION
==========

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for SNA Server version
4.0. For additional information, please see the following article in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q215838 How to Obtain the Latest SNA Server Version 4.0 Service Pack


WORKAROUND
==========

The "Path Too Long" error can be prevented by modifying the PATH in Windows NT
to be less than 200 characters. For additional information about methods that
can be used to allow longer PATH statements, please see the following article in
the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q169171 Long PATH Environment Variable Causes 16-bit Apps to Hang

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft SNA Server versions
3.0, 3.0 SP1, 3.0 SP2, 3.0 SP3, 4.0, 4.0 SP1, and 4.0 SP2. This problem was
first corrected in SNA Server version 4.0 Service Pack 3.

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

The following steps have to be done to apply the update to prevent the "PATH Too
Long" error from occurring when the Windows NT path is greater than 200
characters in length:

1. Copy the SNA Server client for Windows 95/98 to a local hard drive.

2. Backup and rename the existing Snafile.stf file located in the Windows 95/98
  client directory (for example, c:\Win9x) created in the previous step.

3. Copy the updated Snafile.stf into the local client directory.

4. Run Setup.exe from the local directory.

The updated Snafile.stf does not attempt to add the path for the Windows 95/98
client to the Windows NT PATH statement. If the path for the Windows 95/98
client is needed, it will have to be added manually.

NOTE: This update is most useful in those environments where the SNA Server
client for Windows 95/98 will be installed in an unattended manner, as user
intervention to continue Setup is not wanted.

The Windows NT PATH statement consists of the following:

- The PATH variable found on the Environment tab of the System tool in Control
  Panel.

- The PATH statement in the Autoexec.bat file, if one exists.

- The PATH statement in the Autoexec.nt file, if one exists.

The PATH statements (if they exist) from the Autoexec.bat and Autoexec.nt files
are appended to the PATH environment variable specified in Control Panel.

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbsna400sp3fix 
Technology        : kbAudDeveloper kbSNAServSearch kbSNAServ300 kbSNAServ400
Version           : WINDOWS:3.0,3.0SP1,3.0SP2,3.0SP3,4.0,4.0SP1,4.0SP2
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

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

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.