DOCUMENT:Q86181 29-AUG-2001 [win95x] TITLE :Programs with Reserved Windows Filenames May Not Run PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product PROD/VER:WINDOWS:3.1,3.11 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows versions 3.1, 3.11 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ======= In Microsoft Windows version 3.1, if a program's executable filename is a name that is reserved by Windows, the file will not run. There is no error message associated with this behavior. In addition, if a program's executable file has a name that is already running in memory and the program running in memory can only occur once, the duplicate program will: - not execute - not return an error message - may execute the duplicate program MORE INFORMATION ================ This occurs because when Windows gets the request to run a new program, it checks for another occurrence of this program in memory. It does this by looking at the first eight characters of the filename and then comparing the information to the programs in memory. If Windows finds another version of this program in memory, it sends this new instance to the currently running program. It is then up to this program whether or not to execute a new instance. If the program is set up to make itself active, then it will become active. If the program is reserved by Windows or its operating system, such as KERNEL.EXE, then the new program will not execute. Unusable executable filenames: CGA40WOA.EXE COMM.EXE COMMDLG.EXE GDI.EXE DISPLAY.EXE DOSAPP.EXE FIXFONTS.EXE FONTS.EXE KERNEL.EXE KEYBOARD.EXE MMSYSTEM.EXE MOUSE.EXE PROGMAN.EXE SHELL.EXE USER.EXE There may be other executable filenames that cannot be duplicated, depending on the configuration and third-party applications. KBCategory: kbother kbdisplay kbprb KBSubcategory: win31 Additional query words: 3.10 3.11 file name ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbWin3xSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin310 kbWin311 Version : WINDOWS: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 2001.