Err Msg: Wms.exe Is Not a Valid Win32 Application

ID: Q229787

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 98
Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you try to install the Microsoft Windows Messaging Service (WMS) from the Windows 98 CD-ROM, you may receive the following error message:

Wms.exe is not a valid Win32 application

Also, when you try to install Microsoft Exchange from the Microsoft Office 97 CD-ROM, you may receive the following error message:

Cannot copy Wmsset32.exe The exclusive semaphore is owned by another process.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if you are using a MatsuShita CD-ROM drive. Some MatsuShita CD-ROM drives are not totally compatible with Windows 95 or Windows 98.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, contact the manufacturer of your computer to inquire about the availability of a fix for this issue. Note that this may require replacing your CD-ROM drive with a more up to date CD-ROM drive.

To work around this behavior, install the programs from the Office 97 floppy disks. For information about obtaining Microsoft Office 97 on floppy disk, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q160049 OFF97: How to Obtain Microsoft Office 97 on Floppy Disks

Additional query words:


Keywords          : kberrmsg kbhw win95 win98 cddrive 
Version           : WINDOWS:95
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: July 16, 1999