PRB: MS-SETUP Uses \SYSTEM Rather Than \SYSTEM32

 Last reviewed: November 2, 1995
Article ID: Q98888
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Win32 Software Development Kit (SDK) for Windows NT versions 3.1 and 3.5

SYMPTOMS

Call GetWindowsSysDir() in the SETUP.MST file of a 16-bit setup application. The return value is C:\WINNT\SYSTEM\ instead of C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\. Note that this doesn't happen with the 32-bit Setup Toolkit.

CAUSE

Windows on Win32 (WOW) returns the SYSTEM directory, not the SYSTEM32 directory, to 16-bit applications such as MS-SETUP. This is done for compatibility reasons.

RESOLUTION

Determine whether the setup code is being run under WOW or Windows version 3.1 by checking the WF_WINNT bit (0x4000) in the return from GetWinFlags(). Choose either the return from GetWindowsSysDir() or <winows dir>\system32 as appropriate.

MORE INFORMATION

Note that there are additional considerations for network installs for Win32s, because the SYSTEM directory may not be a branch off of the Windows directory.

Additional reference words: 3.10 3.50
KBCategory: kbtool kbprb
KBSubcategory: TlsMss

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Last reviewed: November 2, 1995
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