Shortcut to MS-DOS-Based Program on Network Drive Fails

ID: Q132601

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you try to use a shortcut to an MS-DOS-based program (.com, .exe, or .bat file) on a network drive that has been disconnected, you receive the following error message:

Cannot find the working folder for this program. The program may have difficulty locating its files and documents. Make sure that the working folder is specified correctly in the property sheets for the program and any shortcuts to it. Do you wish to run the program anyway?

If you click Yes, you receive the following error message:

Cannot find the file <drive>:\<path>\<program file>

This problem does not occur with shortcuts to Windows-based programs or registered file types.

CAUSE

Windows 95 does not correctly remap the network drive before trying to run the MS-DOS-based program specified in the shortcut.

RESOLUTION

Remap the network drive containing the MS-DOS-based program file using the same drive letter, or change the shortcut to use a UNC path. UNC paths have the following syntax:

\\<servername>\<sharename>\<path>\<program file>

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