WINDIR Environment Variable Set When Running Windows (65662)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 3.0
  • Microsoft Windows 3.0a
  • Microsoft Windows 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows 3.11
This article was previously published under Q65662
Microsoft Windows version 3.0 sets the WINDIR environment variable whenever any program, including a MS-DOS program, is run under it. WINDIR is set to the directory where WIN.COM is found. This is usually C:\WINDOWS. The WINDIR variable is removed from the MS-DOS environment when you exit Windows.

As a result, MS-DOS applications can detect whether they are running under Windows. If WINDIR is set to a valid name, the application is running under Windows.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/7/2005
Keywords:KB65662
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