Setup Error: "Could Not Rename the C:\Autoexec.bat..."

ID: Q142347

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word for Windows, version 6.0
Microsoft Windows 95 operating system

SYMPTOMS

When you install Microsoft Word for Windows, version 6.0, on Windows 95, you get the following error message:

   Could not rename the file 'c:\autoexec.bat' to 'c:\autoexec.bak.'

CAUSE

The Autoexec.bat file has been deleted or it never existed. Windows 95 does not need an Autoexec.bat file to start. This functionality is different from earlier versions of Windows. However, Word 6.0 for Windows requires Share.exe to be loaded, so Setup must add the following command line to the Autoexec.bat file:

   c:\Dos\Share.exe /L:500 /F:5100

When Setup does not find the Autoexec.bat file, it generates the above error message.

This problem does not occur when you install Microsoft Word versions 6.0a or 6.0c or Microsoft Word for Windows 95. These versions of Word do not use the Share.exe file.

WORKAROUND

Rerun Setup. In the error dialog box, click Ignore. Microsoft Word Setup creates an Autoexec.bat file with a single entry for the Share.exe command.

KBCategory: kberrmsg KBSubcategory: Additional reference words: 6.0 winword word6 setup cannot rename autoexec.bat autoexec can't

Keywords          : kbsetup
Version           : 6.0
Platform          : WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: January 20, 1999