Windows Only Starts from Windows Directory

Last reviewed: November 23, 1994
Article ID: Q88091

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.1, 3.11

SUMMARY

If Windows starts from the Windows directory but not from another directory, such as the root directory, then one or more of the following conditions may exist:

There are multiple WIN.COM files. For example, WIN.COM file has been copied to the root directory of the boot drive.
A batch file is being used to start Windows.
There is a pathing problem.
Incompatible files are present in the current directory or path.

MORE INFORMATION

Make sure you are starting Windows by typing "WIN" (without the quotation marks) instead of using a batch file to start Windows.

Edit the AUTOEXEC.BAT file and make WINDOWS the first directory in your PATH= statement. This usually resolves any pathing problems.

Windows requires that certain file are in the same directory as the WIN.COM file. To search for multiple WIN.COM files or a batch file that is attempting to start Windows from another directory:

Run File Manager.
From the File menu, choose Search.
In the Search For box, type "WIN.COM" (without the quotation marks) to search for multiple WIN.COM files or "WIN.BAT" to search for a batch file that might start Windows.
Make sure the Start From text box contains C:\ and that the Search All Subdirectories check box is selected.

If you are using MS-DOS 5.0 or later, you can search for these files using the DIR command.

Change to the root directory by typing the following at the MS-DOS command prompt:
```
      cd \
```
Type the following command to check for duplicate WIN.COM files:
```
      dir win.com /s
```
Type the following command to check for a batch file called WIN.BAT:
```
      dir win.bat /s
```

These commands will list all WIN.COM and WIN.BAT files on the current hard drive. If you have more than one WIN.COM file, delete all the extra ones, leaving just one WIN.COM file on the hard drive in the WINDOWS directory.

If you find a WIN.BAT file, rename it to something else, such as GOWIN.BAT. Rename the file WINSTART.BAT because Windows treats this as a special file to be read after starting Windows.

If you have tried all of the above, and Windows will start from the WINDOWS directory, but it won't start from another directory such as the root directory, you probably have incompatible device drivers in the directory from which Windows will not start. To correct this problem, compare a directory listing of the Windows directory with the directory from which Windows will not start, and look for duplicate files (or device drivers) such as MOUSE.DRV, LMOUSE.DRV, VGA.DRV, VGA.3GR, and so on.

KBCategory: kbother kbprb
KBSubcategory: win31
Additional reference words: 3.00 3.10

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 23, 1994
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.