Microsoft KB Archive/97016

= Windows Err Msg with MS-DOS 6: EMM386: Unable to Start =

Article ID: 97016

Article Last Modified on 7/7/2005

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APPLIES TO


 * 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
 * Microsoft Windows 3.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Windows 3.0a
 * Microsoft Windows 3.1 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Windows 3.11 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q97016





SYMPTOMS
If you start Microsoft Windows in 386 enhanced mode after you upgrade to MS- DOS, you may receive the following error message:

EMM386: Unable to start enhanced mode Windows due to invalid path specification for EMM386



CAUSE
This error can be caused by the following:


 * A possible incompatibility between Windows, EMM386.EXE version 4.45, and VSafe.

For more information, type help vsafe at the MS-DOS command prompt, press ENTER, and then choose Note.
 * The presence of MS-DOS CHKLIST.MS (or older Central Point CHKLIST.CPS) check list files in your Windows or MS-DOS directory.
 * With MS-DOS 6.2 Upgrade, running Microsoft Anti-Virus (MSAV) before running MS-DOS 6.2 Step-Up installation, and loading the MS-DOS VSafe program.



WORKAROUND
If you are running the MS-DOS version of VSafe (not Central Point VSafe or PC Tools Vdefend), you should first add the /Y parameter (along with the path to EMM386.EXE) to the DEVICE command for EMM386.EXE in your CONFIG.SYS file. For example, add the following: device=c:\dos\emm386.exe noems /y=c:\dos\emm386.exe If you are running MS-DOS 6.0, work around this problem as follows:


 * Unload VSafe by typing vsafe /u at the MS-DOS command prompt, or change the command for VSafe in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file so that it has the path to the DOS directory (for example, C:\DOS\VSAFE.COM) and then restart your computer. -or-


 * Delete the CHKLIST.MS files (and any CHKLIST.CPS files) from the Windows or \DOS directories. -or-


 * Use the Windows version of EMM386.EXE.

If the problem occurred when you upgraded to MS-DOS 6.2, try the following:


 * Run MSAV again after upgrading. -or-


 * Delete the CHKLIST.MS file from your Windows or MS-DOS directory. -or-


 * Unload Vsafe before running Windows.

Additional query words: 6.22 6.00 6 nav norton nortons norton's anti virus anti-virus nav& sys nav&.sys stepup

Keywords: KB97016

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