After Installing IntelliPoint: "Unable to Locate C:\MSINPUT"

ID: Q123031

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

After you install the Microsoft IntelliPoint software, an error message similar to the following is displayed when you try to run a Windows-based application: 

   Unable to locate C:\MSINPUT
NOTE: Receiving this error typically does not affect the performance of the Windows-based application.

CAUSE

The Microsoft IntelliPoint Setup program modifies the mouse.drv= line in the SYSTEM.INI file to read as follows: 

   mouse.drv=c:\msinput\msinput.drv
This line creates a problem for applications that read only a limited number of characters from the mouse.drv= line. Because they can no longer read the entire line, they attempt to locate a driver other than MSINPUT.DRV in the C:\MSINPUT directory and are unable to do so.

RESOLUTION

To prevent the error message from appearing, do the following:

1. Quit Windows, and then open the SYSTEM.INI file in MS-DOS Editor by 

   typing the following at the MS-DOS command prompt:

      edit c:\windows\system.ini
2. Modify the mouse.drv= line located in the [boot] section to read as 
   follows:

      mouse.drv=msinput.drv
3. Save the file and quit MS-DOS Editor.

4. Copy the MSINPUT.DRV file from the C:\MSINPUT directory to the 

   C:\WINDOWS directory by typing the following command at the MS-DOS
   prompt:

      copy c:\msinput\msinput.drv c:\windows
5. Restart Windows.

You should now be able to run the Windows-based application without receiving the error message.

MORE INFORMATION

The following applications are known to encounter this problem:

Aldus Photostyler

Aldus Photostyler can read only the first 20 characters from the mouse.drv= line. As a result, it returns the exact error message mentioned in the SYMPTOMS section of this article.

The products discussed here are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.

KBCategory: kb3rdparty kbsetup kbhw KBSubcategory: Additional reference words: 3rdparty 9.00 10.0 1.0 mouse intellipoint aldus photo style

Last Reviewed: September 12, 1996