DOCUMENT:Q82786 02-OCT-1999 [win95x] TITLE :System Hangs After Installing Windows or Windows Application 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 ======= If your system hangs while rebooting after installing Windows 3.1 or a Windows application, the MS-DOS path may be too long. Windows and Windows applications frequently add their directory to the path. Under some versions of MS-DOS, such as MS-DOS 4.01 or Compaq DOS 3.31, a PATH statement longer than 127 characters can cause the system to lock up during system startup. If this problem occurs, either start the computer by booting from a system disk in drive A, or press CTRL+C (or CTRL+BREAK) before the PATH statement is reached in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. MORE INFORMATION ================ If the path is very close to 127 characters, and the current Windows directory entry in the path is not preceded with the drive designation (for example, PATH=\DOS;\WINDOWS;...), Windows will add the C: to the Windows directory entry in the path. Additional query words: 3.10 ====================================================================== 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 1999.