DOCUMENT:Q155437 08-MAY-2001 [ssafe] TITLE :PRB: "Invalid DOS Path" Error Message PRODUCT :Microsoft SourceSafe PROD/VER:4.00 5.00 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, 16-bit, for Windows, versions 4.0, 5.0 - Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, 32-bit, for Windows 4.0 - Microsoft Visual SourceSafe for Windows, version 5.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== While doing a GET or VIEW from the Show History dialog, a Check In of a large file, or a Difference on a large file, the user gets the following message: "Invalid DOS path :" CAUSE ===== The Temp_Path setting in the SRCSAFE.INI file is set to an invalid directory. RESOLUTION ========== Edit the SRCSAFE.INI file and change the Temp_Path setting to an existing directory. If Temp_Path is set to a network drive make sure that the network connection is stable. STATUS ====== This behavior is by design. MORE INFORMATION ================ The SRCSAFE.INI file has an initialization variable called Temp_Path. This tells Visual SourceSafe where to put its temporary files. If Temp-Path is set to a non-existent location, an error will occur when Visual SourceSafe attempts to access the non-existent location. Visual SourceSafe will use a temporary directory when any one of the following actions is performed: 1. Doing a GET of an older version of a file from the Show History dialog that it can't fit into memory. This is more likely to happen with binary files. 2. Doing a VIEW of an older version of a file from the Show History dialog. 3. Doing a Check In of a large file that it can't fit into memory. This is more likely to happen with binary files. 4. Doing a Difference on a large file that it can't fit into memory. This is more likely to happen with binary files. If the Temp_Path in the SRCSAFE.INI file is invalid, it may corrupt the file when any of the previously-mentioned actions are performed. By default, Temp_Path is set to a directory called "temp" that is created by the server installation. Therefore, this situation should only arise if a user has edited the SRCSAFE.INI file. Additional query words: 5.00 ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbSSafeSearch kbAudDeveloper kbSSafe400 kbSSafe500 kbSSafe16bitSearch kbSSafe32bitSearch Version : 4.00 5.00 Issue type : kbprb ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.