MS-DOS Err Msg: Setup Did Not Find Windows in the Path... (97457)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.0
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.2
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.21
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.22
  • Microsoft Windows 3.0
  • Microsoft Windows 3.0a
  • Microsoft Windows 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows 3.11
  • Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.11
This article was previously published under Q97457

SYMPTOMS

You can install the MS-DOS 6.0 and later optional programs (Anti-Virus, Undelete, and Backup) with either SETUP or SETUP /E. If you install any of these programs using either command, you may receive the following error message:
Setup Did Not Find Windows in the Path Specified

CAUSE

One or more of the optional program(s) you attempted to install was the Windows-based version, and one of the following files is missing from your computer system:

SYSTEM.INI
PROGMAN.INI

If you use Norton Desktop for Windows or another replacement shell for Program Manager, you receive the above error message if the PROGMAN.INI file has been deleted.

You may also receive the above error message if Windows has been installed to the root directory of a logical drive.

WORKAROUND

Missing PROGMAN.INI

If the PROGMAN.INI file has been deleted and you cannot restore it, you can re-create the PROGMAN.INI file by using the following steps:

  1. At the MS-DOS command prompt in the Windows directory, type the following, pressing ENTER after each line:

    copy con progman.ini [groups]

  2. Press CTRL+Z, then press ENTER.
  3. Run SETUP or SETUP /E again.

Missing SYSTEM.INI

If the SYSTEM.INI file has been deleted and you cannot restore, you can re-create the SYSTEM.INI file by using the following steps:

  1. Expand the file SYSTEM.SR_ from the original Windows 3.1 disks to your Windows directory with the following command

    <destination>:\windows\expand <drive>:system.sr_ <destination>:
    \windows\system.ini

    where <destination> is your hard disk drive and <drive> is your floppy disk drive containing the original Windows 3.1 disk.

    NOTE: SYSTEM.SR_ is found on Disk 1 on the 1.44-megabyte 3.5-inch disk set and on Disk 2 of the 1.2-megabyte 5.25-inch disk set.
  2. Change to the drive containing Windows, and then change to the Windows directory.
  3. Type setup to start the MS-DOS portion of Windows Setup.
  4. Select the correct hardware options for your system. (The options are blank by default.)
  5. Accept your changes.

    NOTE: At this point, you can have Setup copy new drivers.
  6. Open the new SYSTEM.INI file in a text editor, such as Microsoft MS-DOS Editor, and make the following changes:

    1. In the [BOOT] section, add PROGMAN.EXE to the SHELL= line.
    2. In the [BOOT] section, remove or remark out the Taskman.exe= line.
  7. Run SETUP or SETUP /E again.

Windows Was Installed in the Root Directory

If Windows has been installed to the root directory of a logical drive, you can work around the problem by specifying the root directory name, followed by a period. For example, if Windows has been installed in the root directory of drive D, type D:\..

Norton Desktop for Windows (NDW) is manufactured by Symantec, a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/7/2005
Keywords:KB97457
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