Article ID: 52206
Article Last Modified on 10/20/2003
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
This article was previously published under Q52206
SYMPTOMS
In MS-DOS versions 3.1x-4.x, if a "PATH \;.." statement is used and an executable (or .BAT) file is found in the directory that translates to the "\" 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