Using START to Run Program Information Files (PIFs)

 Last reviewed: February 6, 1995
Article ID: Q125755
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 3.5
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 3.5

When you use the Windows NT START command to run a program information file (PIF) from Command Prompt or a batch file, the following error message appears: 

   The name specified is not recognized as in internal or external
   command, operable program or batch file.
The Windows NT Workstation 3.5 System Guide on page 336 (page 342 of the Windows NT Server 3.5 System Guide) notes that you can start a PIF using the following command line: 

   start <myapp>
where <myapp> is the name of the PIF you wish to run. This only works if the filename of the PIF is the same as the filename of the application being called in the PIF. If the name of the PIF is different than the name of the application being called from the PIF, you need to include the .PIF extension, as in the following example: 

   start myapp.pif
If you fail to include the .PIF extension, you will receive the error message noted above.

KBCategory: kbusage
KBSubcategory: ntdocerr ntutil
Additional reference words: prodnt 3.10 3.50

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Last reviewed: February 6, 1995
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