_DEFAULT.BAT Does Not Exist in Windows NT (101925)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1
This article was previously published under Q101925

SUMMARY

In Windows NT, when a user starts an MS-DOS application, the _DEFAULT.PIF file is called to create the virtual machine environment for the MS-DOS application. The program filename that _DEFAULT.PIF calls is _DEFAULT.BAT. _DEFAULT.BAT does not exist as a physical file. It is a dummy variable used as a placeholder to allow _DEFAULT.PIF to be saved. The MS-DOS executable file is substituted for _DEFAULT.BAT by the operating system.

_DEFAULT.PIF should not be manually executed from anywhere inside Windows NT. The _DEFAULT.PIF file will be automatically used for MS-DOS applications that do not have a specific PIF file. If _DEFAULT.PIF is executed from File Manager, the following error message appears:
"Invalid program file name, please check your PIF file."
If changes are made to _DEFAULT.PIF, they will be used when MS-DOS applications without PIFs are started under Windows NT.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/20/2003
Keywords:KB101925
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.