Windows Err Msg: Windows Directory Does Not Exist

 Last reviewed: November 21, 1994
Article ID: Q85592
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.1, 3.11

SYMPTOMS

If the path in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file does not contain the drive letter for the Windows directory, you may receive the following error message when installing a Windows-based application through Program Manager: 

   Windows Directory does not exist.
The following is an example of a path statement that does not specify a drive: 

   path c:\dos;\windows;\excel;\access

MORE INFORMATION

If the path is set according to the example above, and you run the MS-DOS Prompt in Windows and type "set" (without the quotation marks) at the MS-DOS command prompt, the environment variable will be the same syntax as found in the path. Therefore, the environment for Windows will be WINDIR=\WINDOWS, which does not specify the drive letter designation. If this is the case, then some Windows installation programs may fail to find the Windows directory. Adding the drive letter for Windows in the path should solve this problem.

KBCategory: kbsetup kberrmsg
KBSubcategory: win31
Additional reference words: 3.10 3.1 3.11

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.

Last reviewed: November 21, 1994
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.