DOCUMENT:Q86168 08-OCT-1999 [win95x] TITLE :Err Msg: Application Execution Error..No Association Exists PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product PROD/VER:WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a,3.1,3.11 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows versions 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== When you try to run a non-Windows-based application from Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.0 and 3.1, the following error messages may appear, respectively: Application Execution Error No association exists for the specified file. OK Application Execution Error No application is associated with the specified file. Create an association by using File Manager. OK CAUSE ===== The above error messages may be generated while attempting to run a non- Windows-based application if there is an omission in the WIN.INI file. The error messages imply that an association can be created for program files. This is incorrect, associations cannot be created for program files. Program files, in the Windows operating system, have one of the following extensions: COM EXE BAT PIF (PIF stands for program information file. For more information on creating and maintaining PIFs, see your "Microsoft Windows User's Guide" or use the Windows online Help utility.) The above error messages may occur not only with non-Windows applications, but with any file having one of the above extensions if the file is absent from the "Programs=" line in the [Windows] section of the WIN.INI file. When upgrading from Windows 386 2.x to Windows 3.0, the WIN.INI file may not be correctly updated to reflect the addition of "PIF" to the Programs=" line. In any case, the "Programs=" line should be updated as follows: Programs=COM EXE BAT PIF If any, or all, of the values for the "Programs=" setting are not present, they may be added using a text editor such as Notepad. Additional query words: 3.10 3.11 3.00 3.00a err msg ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbWin3xSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin300 kbWin300a kbWin310 kbWin311 Version : WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a,3.1,3.11 ============================================================================= 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 1999.