Windows: PATH Command Searches All Entries

 Last reviewed: December 6, 1994
Article ID: Q79614
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11
  • Microsoft Windows for Workgroups versions 3.1, 3.11

SYMPTOMS

When you start Windows, or when you execute an application from inside Windows without specifying a path, you may receive the following error message 

   System Error
   Cannot read from drive <x>:
where <x>: is a floppy disk drive or a removable media drive letter.

CAUSE

This error is caused when you specify a removable media's drive letter in the MS-DOS PATH statement of the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Windows reads all path specifications in the PATH command before it runs an application. It does not stop the search after finding the specified file in the search path.

RESOLUTION

Make sure that the drive letter for a removable drive does not appear on the search path in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

Example

  1. Quit Windows.

  2. Type the following at the MS-DOS command prompt and then press ENTER: 

          path = c:\;c:\dos;c:\windows;a:\

  3. Run Windows.

  4. In Program Manager, choose Run from the File menu.

  5. Type the following and press ENTER: 

          chkdsk

Windows then tries to read drive A before running the MS-DOS CHKDSK command. If no disk is in drive A, then it generates a "Cannot read from drive A:" error message.

KBCategory: kbtool kberrmsg
KBSubcategory: win30 win31 wfw wfwg
Additional reference words: 3.00 err msg floppy 3.1 3.10 3.11

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Last reviewed: December 6, 1994
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