DLL Errors When Running Windows 16-Bit Applications

Last reviewed: February 13, 1995
Article ID: Q125905

The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1 - Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1 - Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 3.5 - Microsoft Windows NT Server version 3.5

SYMPTOMS

The following error message will occur when you attempt to run an application on Windows NT that requires a Dynamic-Link Library (DLL) file that the application cannot find:

   File Error

   Cannot find xxxx.DLL

Where xxxx is the filename of the DLL that cannot be found.

CAUSE

This happens when Windows NT is installed on a computer that already had Windows version 3.1 or Windows for Workgroups (WfWG) installed, and where Windows NT is installed in a separate directory and the application was installed under Windows or WfWG.

This is also likely to happen when the directory of the application is not in the Path.

RESOLUTION

To avoid this problem, modify the Path statement in Windows NT to include the directory of the application DLL files as follows:

From Control Panel, choose the System icon.

In the System Environment Variables section of the System dialog box, select this line:

      Path=%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%

      NOTE: The path may be different if it has been modified. The path
            listed above is the default Path statement for Windows NT.

In the Value box, append one of the following lines to the existing Path (depending on where the DLL files for the application are installed):

      ;c:\windows\system

      Where C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM is the Windows 3.1 or WfWg system path.

      -or-

      ;c:\appdir

      Where C:\APPDIR is the application directory.

Choose the Set button.
Choose the OK button.

NOTE: You are not required to log off or restart Windows NT after making this change. The next application you start will use the new settings. However, applications running before you made the changes will not be affected.

For additional information, please see the following article(s) in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q102424
   TITLE     : Migrating Windows 3.1 Program Groups to Windows NT

For more information on Windows NT program groups, query on the following words here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   migrated and icons and items and video

Additional reference words: prodnt 3.50 win.ini initialization
KBCategory: kbusage
KBSubCategory: nthowto nt16bit

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: February 13, 1995
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.