Knowledge Base

Err Msg Running MS-DOS-Based Apps: Cannot Start Application

Article ID: 109536

Article Last Modified on 12/6/2003

Microsoft Windows 3.1 Standard Edition
Microsoft Windows 3.11 Standard Edition
Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.1
Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.11

This article was previously published under Q109536

SYMPTOMS

If you include any parameters on your SET COMSPEC command (typically located in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file), you receive the following error message when you try to start MS-DOS-based applications under Windows or Windows for Workgroups:

Cannot start application

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, edit your AUTOEXEC.BAT file and remove any parameters from your SET COMSPEC command.

MORE INFORMATION

Any configuration parameters for COMMAND.COM should be placed on the SHELL= line in the CONFIG.SYS file. For example:

     shell=c:\dos\command.com c:\dos\ /e:512 /p

Additional query words: 3.10 3.1 3.11

Keywords: KB109536