Windows Err Msg: Cannot Find File... (88442)



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 Q88442

SYMPTOMS

When installing or running Microsoft Windows you may receive one of the following error messages:
Cannot Find File; Check to Ensure Path and Filename Are Correct

-or-

Application Execution Error: Cannot Find File; Check to Ensure Path and Filename Are Correct

MORE INFORMATION

Cannot Find File; Check to Ensure Path and Filename Are Correct

This error is generated for one of the following reasons:

  • You may receive this error when running a PIF, if the Program Filename field in the PIF file does not contain a valid path and filename for the program. A full pathname should be specified -- for example, C:\MYDIR\MYPROG.EXE. For more information, consult the PIF Editor online help.
  • The FILES= statement in the CONFIG.SYS is set too low. The FILES= should be set to at least 45. This can happen when installing Windows and when running MS-DOS-based applications from Windows.

Cannot Find File; Check to Ensure Path and Filename Are Correct

This message is caused when Windows tries to execute applications listed on the Run= or Load= lines in the WIN.INI file.

The above error can be caused by one of the following situations:

  • The path to the executable file is invalid (it is misspelled or does not exist).
  • The file has been deleted.
  • Either the Load= or Run= line has exceeded the 128-character limit. In Windows 3.1, you can use the StartUp group feature to avoid this limitation.
  • There is more than one space between the items on the Load= or Run= line. For example, there are two spaces between the applications on the following Load= line:
          Load=c:\windows\AppOne.exe  AppTwo.exe
                                    ^^
    						
    If this last situation is the cause, Windows loads the applications after displaying the message.

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/7/2005
Keywords:KB88442