APPEND.EXE Causes Problems in All Versions of Windows

Last reviewed: November 23, 1994
Article ID: Q89379

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows operating system versions 2.x, 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11
Microsoft Windows for Workgroups versions 3.1, 3.11

SUMMARY

MS-DOS APPEND.EXE (or APPEND.COM) should not be used with Windows or Windows for Workgroups. It prevents Windows and Windows-based applications from creating valid well-formed-path (WFP) names for the files they are using. (A well-formed-path name is the complete name of a file, including the drive letter and full path specification, starting from the root directory.)

This article discusses the following:

Windows Setup hangs
Windows Program Manager and MS-DOS Prompt
Windows File Manager
Windows applications cannot be found

MORE INFORMATION

Windows Setup Hangs

If APPEND.EXE is loading when running Windows' Setup, then the installation of Windows may be corrupted. You may also receive error messages such as:

   Error 6

   -or-

   Cannot find file: WIN.SRC

Windows Program Manager and MS-DOS Prompt

You may see the error message "Cannot start application" when you attempt to run the MS-DOS icon in Windows 3.0 or the MS-DOS Prompt in Windows 3.1 if APPEND.EXE is loaded in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file as:

   APPEND C:\DOS

Windows File Manager

If you are using Windows 3.0 or 3.1 File Manager, while APPEND.EXE is loaded, and you attempt to format a system disk, you may receive the error message:

   Bad Or Missing Command Interpreter

There will also be problems when attempting to read floppy disks. An example would be attempting to read drive A, but receiving a directory of drive C.

Windows Applications Cannot be Found

APPEND.EXE confuses Windows and may prevent Windows from finding applications. When this occurs, the following error message will be displayed:

                   Change Disk
   Cannot find "AppName.EXE", Please insert in drive A:
                      < OK >

KBCategory: kbother kbprb kberrmsg
KBSubcategory: wfw wfwg win31 win30
Additional reference words: 3.00 3.00a 3.10 3.11 excel.exe winword.exe err
msg

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.