Microsoft KB Archive/77322

= Err Msg: Cannot Load COMMAND, System Halted (with Novell) =

Article ID: 77322

Article Last Modified on 5/12/2003

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0a
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 6.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 6.2 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 6.21 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 6.22 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q77322



SYMPTOMS
When you quit an application or log off a Novell network, you see the following message:

Cannot load COMMAND, system halted



CAUSE
Some versions of the Novell login program prevent the resident part of COMMAND.COM from reloading the transient part, if the SHELL command refers to a copy of COMMAND.COM in the DOS directory. MS-DOS then displays the &quot;Cannot load COMMAND, system halted&quot; message.



RESOLUTION
You can correct this problem by obtaining an updated version of the Novell login program from Novell. Or, you can do the following:

 Use a text editor, such as MS-DOS Editor, to open your CONFIG.SYS file. If you want to use MS-DOS Editor, type the following command:

edit c:\config.sys

 Find the command line that begins with the word &quot;shell.&quot;  Make sure the SHELL command refers to C:\COMMAND.COM rather than C:\DOS\COMMAND.COM. For example, suppose your SHELL command looks like the following: shell=c:\dos\command.com /p /e:512 Modify the command (by deleting &quot;\dos&quot;), so it looks like the following: shell=c:\command.com /p /e:512  Save your CONFIG.SYS file. If you're using MS-DOS Editor, choose Save from the File menu. When MS-DOS Editor displays a dialog box prompting you to save your file, choose Yes or press ENTER. Use the text editor to open your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Look for a command line that begins with &quot;set comspec=.&quot; If you find this command, delete it.</li> Save your AUTOEXEC.BAT file and quit your text editor.</li> Make sure there is a copy of the COMMAND.COM file in your root directory. To do this, type the following command:

dir c:\command.com

If MS-DOS displays the &quot;File not found&quot; message, there is no COMMAND.COM file in your root directory.</li> If there is no COMMAND.COM in your root directory, copy the file from your DOS directory. If your MS-DOS files are in the C:\DOS directory, type the following command:

copy c:\dos\command.com c:\

</li> Restart your computer by pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL.</li></ol>

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