Internet Explorer May Not Run if Installed in a Different Folder

• Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 2.0, 2.01, 2.1, 3.0, 3.01, 3.02a, 3.03 for Windows 3.1

SYMPTOMS

After you install any of the Microsoft Internet Explorer for Windows 3.1 versions listed above in a different folder than a previous version of Internet Explorer for Windows 3.1, you may be unable to run the version of Internet Explorer you installed most recently.

CAUSE

This problem can occur when a SET statement added to the Autoexec.bat file by a previous version of Internet Explorer is not removed when you install the updated version. When you attempt to run the version of Internet Explorer you installed most recently, it may refer to the old SET statement and attempt to load files from the previous version of Internet Explorer.

RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, follow these steps:

1. Use any text editor (such as Notepad) to open the Autoexec.bat file in the root of the C drive.

2. Remove or disable (by typing "rem" [without quotation marks] in front of the line, and then pressing SPACE BAR) any of the following lines that exist in the Autoexec.bat file:

         set path=%path%;c:\<folder>\mail
         set path=%path%;c:\<folder>
         set ieppp=c:\<folder>
         set pctcp=c:\<folder>\pctcp.shv
   

   where <folder> is the folder in which the previous version of Internet Explorer for Windows 3.1 is installed.

3. Save and then close the Autoexec.bat file.

4. In Program Manager, click Exit Windows on the File menu, and then restart your computer.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft Internet Explorer for Windows 3.1 versions listed above. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.