Bulletin 5
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Technical Bulletins # 5 back ] Next ]

Cannot find WIN.COM, unable to continue loading Windows

Symptoms

When you restart Microsoft Windows Me after you have installed Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine using Step 1, you see the Windows splash screen, and then you are returned to an MS-DOS prompt with the following error:

Cannot find WIN.COM, unable to continue loading Windows

Resolution Software that relies on the PATH statement in the computer's autoexec.bat file may have trouble loading due to a modification made by SQL Server 2000  Desktop Engine:

SET PATH="C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\80\Tools\Binn\"

Just prior to starting Step 1 of the installation process, your computer's autoexec.bat file is automatically copied to the file autoexec.sql.  After a successful installation of SQL Server Desktop Engine, you should shutdown and restart your computer to finalize the setup process.  Just prior to shutting your computer down the OnShutdown program will automatically replace your autoexec.bat file with the previously saved autoexec.sql file.

If you turn off your computer without shutting it down using the normal shutdown process, or if the above procedure did not finish successfully,  you may need to restore your original autoexec.bat file manually.  To do this type this command at an MS-DOS prompt:

C:\> copy c:\autoexec.sql c:\autoexec.bat

Versions affected
Operating system Problem first identified Problem fixed
Windows Me
(no longer supported)
Build 81 Build 82
Windows NT NA NA
Windows 2000 NA NA
Windows XP NA NA

Last reviewed January 28, 2006