Runtime Error 6009 - Default Environment Size (119365)

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
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.5

This article was previously published under Q119365

3.10 3.50
WINDOWS
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SYMPTOMS

When you run an MS-DOS - based application that requires a large amount of environment space, such as a compiler, you may encounter Runtime Error 6009.

CAUSE

This error occurs when there are not enough bytes allocated for the environment.

The default environment size for MS-DOS - based applications running under Windows NT is 256 bytes. Windows NT sets up many more variables than an average MS-DOS operating system usually does and can quickly meet the default size. The following list is an example of default variables after you install Windows NT over MS-DOS:

   COMSPEC
   COMPUTERNAME
   HOMEDRIVE
   HOMEPATH
   MOUSE
   OS
   OS2LIBPATH
   PATH
   PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE
   PROCESSOR_LEVEL
   PROMPT
   SYSTEMROOT
   TEMP
   USERDOMAIN
   USERNAME
   WINDIR

WORKAROUND

The environment size can be adjusted from the command line or in a .BAT or .CMD file in the SYSTEM32 directory by adding the following line:

   COMMAND /E:XXXX

Additionally, you can use the /P parameter to make the new command interpreter permanent, and you can use the /C parameter to run a specific program after initiating Command.

The environment can also be changed by adding the following line to the CONFIG.NT file in the SYSTEM32 subdirectory

   SHELL=%SYSTEMROOT%\SYSTEM32\COMMAND.COM /E:SIZE /P

where "SIZE" is the maximum length in bytes you want COMMAND.COM to allocate for each program.

The maximum size for the environment is 32768 bytes.

REFERENCES

For more information about the Windows NT command prompt and commands for the MS-DOS and Windows NT subsystems, please see Chapter 9 of the Windows NT "System Guide."

Modification Type:	Major	Last Reviewed:	12/15/2003
Keywords:	KB119365