DOCUMENT:Q68990 23-NOV-1999 [msdos] TITLE :MS-DOS Shell Spawns Two COMMAND.COMs PRODUCT :Microsoft Disk Operating System PROD/VER:MS-DOS:4.0,4.01,5.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 4.0, 4.01, 5.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ======= When you spawn a COMMAND.COM using the Command Prompt option in the program list of MS-DOS Shell and run "MEM /P" if using MS-DOS version 5.0 or "MEM /PROGRAM" with earlier versions, it shows that you are running two copies of COMMAND.COM. Why does it do this? MORE INFORMATION ================ When you create and run a program item in MS-DOS Shell's program list, Shell spawns a command processor to run the program that is listed in the program item; therefore, when you have a program item that runs COMMAND.COM, it spawns a command processor to run COMMAND.COM, and you have two copies of COMMAND.COM running. This also occurs when you run COMMAND.COM from the file list. You can avoid running two copies of COMMAND.COM by using the SHIFT+F9 command to spawn a command processor instead of the program item in the program list. Additional query words: 4.00 4.01 5.00 noupd ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS400 kbMSDOS500 kbMSDOS401 Version : MS-DOS:4.0,4.01,5.0 ============================================================================= 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.