Microsoft KB Archive/166039

= Kids Plus!: Protect It! MS-DOS Applications Won't Start =

Article ID: 166039

Article Last Modified on 1/19/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Plus! For Kids

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This article was previously published under Q166039



NOTE: The workaround outlined in this article may not work with some MS-DOS based applications. If a customized .pif has been created, the corresponding MS-DOS based application may have problems starting.



SYMPTOMS
When you use Microsoft Plus! For Kids Protect It!, MS-DOS based applications may not run when Protect It! restrictions are turned on.



CAUSE
MS-DOS based applications commonly install a .pif file on the Windows desktop that acts as a link to the programs executable file (.exe). Though Protect It! recognizes the .pif and will resolve it to an .exe in the Allowed Programs list, .pif files will not launch with Protect It! restrictions turned on.



WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, do the following:
 * 1) Drag a copy of the MS-DOS based application's .exe to the Windows desktop. (The icon must be on the Desktop for this workaround to function properly.)
 * 2) Using your right mouse button, click on the new .exe icon, and then click Properties.
 * 3) From the Program tab, set the Working Directory to the folder where the application is installed. (E.g. C:\flightsim)
 * 4) A second, default .pif icon will be created. (NOTE: This icon is required for the application to launch from the .exe icon.)
 * 5) Launch Protect It!
 * 6) From Allowed Programs, click the More button, navigate to the Desktop, select the MS-DOS based .exe, and then click OK.
 * 7) Click the Start button, click Shut Down, and the select "Close all programs and log on as a different user."
 * 8) After you log on as a different user, the MS-DOS based application will run from the .exe icon on the Desktop.

NOTE: In some cases the default .pif settings will not be allowed by the application. In this case, Protect It! restrictions will need to be removed to run the application.

For more information about running MS-DOS-based programs, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

138410 Problems Running MS-DOS-Based Programs with Windows 3.x PIF

Additional query words: kids kidsplus kidsplus! pack plus plus!

Keywords: kbfaq kbprb kbusage KB166039

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