  
PSS ID Number: Q76242
Article last modified on 11-23-1994
PSS database name: MSDOS
 
5.x 6.00 6.20 6.21 6.22
 
MS-DOS

MS-DOS Setup Error - Finding DOS PATH 
 

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The information in this article applies to:
 
 - Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 5.x, 6.0, 6.2, 6.21,
   6.22
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SYMPTOMS
========
 
When you run MS-DOS SETUP or SETUP /E, Setup may display the following
error message:
 
   Unrecoverable Error
   Error renaming old utilities.
   Press ENTER to exit Setup.
 
CAUSE
=====
 
This error occurs when:
 
 - The path has been set with the SET PATH= command, the drive
   letter of the DOS directory is in lowercase (for example, SET
   PATH=c:\), and you are running SETUP with the /E parameter.
 
   -or-
 
 - There are no directories in the path that contain MS-DOS files and
   there is a file in the root called "DOS."
 
WORKAROUND
==========
 
The Path Has Been Set with SET PATH=
------------------------------------
 
This is a known problem with MS-DOS 6.x Setup. SETUP /E checks the current
path to locate the MS-DOS directory. If the MS-DOS directory is in
lowercase letters, Setup displays the unrecoverable error message listed
above.
 
To correct this problem, use the following steps:
 
1. Press ENTER to quit Setup.
 
2. Type "path" (without the quotation marks) at the MS-DOS command
   prompt and press ENTER. This displays the current path (for example,
   PATH=c:\dos;c:\windows;c:\utility).
 
3. Use the PATH command to reenter the path in uppercase letters. For
   example, type the following at the MS-DOS command prompt and press
   ENTER:
 
      PATH C:\DOS;C:\WINDOWS;C:\UTILITY
 
4. Run SETUP /E again.
 
A File Called "DOS" Is in the Root Directory
--------------------------------------------
 
To allow Setup to continue, delete the "DOS" file. Setup creates a C:\DOS
directory and proceeds normally.
 
If there is no C:\DOS directory, the Setup program traverses the existing
path to find a directory with MS-DOS files in it. When it locates a
directory with any MS-DOS files, it assumes that this is the directory
containing the old MS-DOS files and continues with the setup.
 
If no directory in the path contains MS-DOS files and a file called "DOS"
exists on the root, the system configuration screen shows that a C:\DOS
directory exists. When you continue with the setup, the above message is
displayed.
 
STATUS
======
 
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in MS-DOS versions 6.0, 6.2,
6.21, and 6.22. We are researching this problem and will post new
information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.
 
KBCategory: kbenv kbdisplay
KBSubcategory: msdos
Additional reference words: 6.00 6.20 BUSETUP BUSETUP.EXE SETUP.EXE
install optional programs utilities parameter 5.00 5.00a errmsg err msg
during
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==
Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1994.


 
