Windows PIF File Search Processes (81096)
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Windows 2.03
- Microsoft Windows 2.1
- Microsoft Windows 2.11
- Microsoft Windows 3.0
This article was previously published under Q81096 SUMMARYWindows/286, Windows/386
When you activate an application with the extension .COM, .EXE, or
.BAT, Windows will search for a PIF file in the following order:
- The WIN.INI [pif] section
- The directory where the executable file is specified
- As follows, where <startup> is the directory in which
Windows is initially executed (usually \WINDOWS):
- If the executable file is a .PIF file, Windows looks in
<startup>\PIF; then, it looks along the path.
- If the executable file is not a .PIF, Windows looks along the
path; then, it looks in <startup>\PIF.
Windows 3.0
Attempting to start a non-Windows-based application may result in the
execution of the wrong non-Windows-based application. This problem
occurs because of Windows 3.0's search algorithm. When Windows
prepares to run a non-Windows-based application, it searches for a
.PIF file with the same name as the executable file. The first .PIF
file found is executed.
Windows searches the directory in which the application is located,
the WINDOWS directory, and the directories in the PATH statement. If
Windows finds no .PIF file, it uses _DEFAULT.PIF.
Modification Type: | Minor | Last Reviewed: | 7/19/2005 |
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Keywords: | KB81096 |
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