WINDIR Environment Variable Set When Running Windows

Last reviewed: November 23, 1994
Article ID: Q65662

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11

Microsoft Windows version 3.0 sets the WINDIR environment variable whenever any program, including a MS-DOS program, is run under it. WINDIR is set to the directory where WIN.COM is found. This is usually C:\WINDOWS. The WINDIR variable is removed from the MS-DOS environment when you exit Windows.

As a result, MS-DOS applications can detect whether they are running under Windows. If WINDIR is set to a valid name, the application is running under Windows.

KBCategory: kbenv
KBSubcategory: win30 win31
Additional reference words: 3.00 3.0 3.0a 3.00a 3.1 3.10 3.11

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Last reviewed: November 23, 1994
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