Error Message: The Specified Path Is Invalid
  
PSS ID Number: Q128347
Article last modified on 08-22-1995
 
95
 
WINDOWS
 

---------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:
 
 - Microsoft Windows 95
---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
SYMPTOMS
========
 
When you try to run a program in Windows 95, the program may not start.
Instead, you may receive one of the following error messages:
 
 - The specified path is invalid
 
 - Directory name is invalid
 
CAUSE
=====
 
This error message can be misleading. If you verify that the path is
valid, the error message may be caused by one of the following
situations:
 
 - Applications written to conform to Windows version 2.x application
   components are incompatible with Windows 95. SuperBase4 is an example
   of such an application.
 
 - The application cannot find a required .DLL file. For example, Visual
   Basic applications require the VBRUN100.DLL, VBRUN200.DLL, or
   VBRUN300.DLL file to be in the Windows\SYSTEM folder.
 
 - If you receive this error message when you try to run a program from
   a CD-ROM, you may be loading an outdated version of MSCDEX in the
   AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
 
RESOLUTION
==========
 
To resolve the problem, use one of the following methods:
 
 - Contact the application's manufacturer about a possible upgrade.
 
 - Reinstall the application to make sure all the necessary files are
   copied to the appropriate folders.
 
 - If the CD-ROM drive in your computer cannot use Windows 95 protected-
   mode drivers, make sure that you load MSCDEX from the
   Windows\Command folder. For example, the line for MSCDEX in the
   AUTOEXEC.BAT file should be similar to:
 
      C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\MSCDEX.EXE <CD-ROM-specific settings>
 
STATUS
======
 
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows 95. We are
researching this problem and will post new information here in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.
 
KBCategory: kberrmsg kb3rdparty
KBSubcategory: wpp95 win95 appscomp
Additional reference words: 95 vbrunxxx.dll
 
=============================================================================
 
Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1995.
