Microsoft KB Archive/52206

= MS-DOS Hangs when &quot;Relative&quot; PATH Is Used =

Article ID: 52206

Article Last Modified on 10/20/2003

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft MS-DOS 3.1
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 3.2 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 3.21 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 3.3 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 3.3a
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 4.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 4.01 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q52206



SYMPTOMS
In MS-DOS versions 3.1x-4.x, if a &quot;PATH \;..&quot; statement is used and an executable (or .BAT) file is found in the directory that translates to the &quot;\&quot; portion of the PATH statement, the system stops (hangs).



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in MS-DOS versions 3.1, 3.11, 3.2, 3.21, 3.22, 3.3, 4.0, 4.0a, and 4.01. This problem does not occur in later versions of MS-DOS.



RESOLUTION
Reversing the order of the path items (to read ..;\) eliminates the problem.



MORE INFORMATION
This type of path is common when software is organized onto logical drives and all necessary files are loaded in the root or in a directory below the working directory.

Additional query words: 3.10 3.20 3.30 3.30a 4.00 4.00a 5.00 noupd

Keywords: KB52206

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