Windows XP cannot find a program's executable files or DLL files (832978)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

SYMPTOMS

When you try to run a program on a Microsoft Windows XP-based computer, the program may not run because Windows XP cannot find the program's executable files or DLL files.

CAUSE

This problem may occur if the system PATH environment variable is longer than 1024 characters when the program is installed. The system PATH environment variable is limited to 1023 characters, plus the terminating null character, for a total of 1024 characters. When you start the program, the path is truncated to 1024 characters, and this truncated version is then written back to the registry.

RESOLUTION

Service pack information

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Microsoft Windows XP. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322389 How to obtain the latest Windows XP service pack

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Windows XP service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.
Windows XP, 64-bit editions
   Date         Time   Version            Size    File name	Platform
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   27-Apr-2004  00:00  6.0.2800.1515     130,560  Fldrclnr.dll     IA-64
   27-Apr-2004  00:00  5.1.2600.1520   1,272,320  Msgina.dll       IA-64
   27-Apr-2004  00:00  6.0.2800.1520  14,377,984  Shell32.dll      IA-64
   27-Apr-2004  00:00  5.1.2600.1515   2,018,816  Sxs.dll          IA-64
   27-Apr-2004  00:00  5.1.2600.1520     497,664  Sysdm.cpl
   27-Apr-2004  00:00  5.1.2600.1520   1,714,176  Userenv.dll      IA-64
   27-Apr-2004  00:13  6.0.2800.1515      82,432  Wfldrclnr.dll    x86
   26-Apr-2004  22:52  5.1.2600.1520     646,144  Winlogon.exe     IA-64
   27-Apr-2004  00:13  5.1.2600.1520     995,328  Wmsgina.dll      x86
   27-Apr-2004  00:13  6.0.2800.1520   8,349,184  Wshell32.dll     x86
   27-Apr-2004  00:13  5.1.2600.1515     676,864  Wsxs.dll         x86
   27-Apr-2004  00:13  5.1.2600.1520     275,456  Wsysdm.cpl
   27-Apr-2004  00:13  5.1.2600.1520     675,840  Wuserenv.dll     x86
   11-Apr-2004  04:04  5.1.2600.1515     593,408  Wxpsp2res.dll    x86
   11-Apr-2004  03:33  5.1.2600.1515     592,896  Xpsp2res.dll     IA-64
   11-Apr-2004  02:18  6.0.2800.1515   2,639,360  Comctl32.dll     IA-64
   27-Apr-2004  00:00                      1,813  Controls.man
   27-Apr-2004  00:00                        623  Comctl.man
Windows XP, 32-bit editions
   Date         Time   Version            Size    File name	Platform
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   27-Apr-2004  00:13  6.0.2800.1515      82,432  Fldrclnr.dll     x86
   27-Apr-2004  00:13  5.1.2600.1520     995,328  Msgina.dll       x86
   27-Apr-2004  00:13  6.0.2800.1520   8,349,184  Shell32.dll      x86
   27-Apr-2004  00:13  5.1.2600.1515     676,864  Sxs.dll          x86
   27-Apr-2004  00:13  5.1.2600.1520     275,456  Sysdm.cpl 	   x86
   27-Apr-2004  00:13  5.1.2600.1520     675,840  Userenv.dll      x86   
   26-Apr-2004  23:52  5.1.2600.1520     519,168  Winlogon.exe     x86 
   11-Apr-2004  04:04  5.1.2600.1515     593,408  Xpsp2res.dll     x86
   27-Apr-2004  00:13  6.0.2800.1515     921,600  Comctl32.dll     x86
   27-Apr-2004  00:13                      1,812  Controls.man
   27-Apr-2004  00:13                        621  Comctl.man

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section. This problem was first corrected in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2.

MORE INFORMATION

After you install this hotfix or Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), the PATH environment variable limit is increased to 2,048 characters. For additional information about the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates



Note Even after you apply the hotfix applied, the ENVIRONMENT management alias (Win32_Environment provider) in WMI will fail if the PATH statement has more than 1023 characters.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/28/2005
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbWinXPsp2fix kbWinXPpreSP2fix kbBug kbfix kbQFE KB832978 kbAudITPRO kbAudEndUser
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