Chaining Parent PSP Environment Variables

 Last reviewed: March 24, 1997
Article ID: Q96271
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0

SUMMARY

Some MS-DOS-based applications change the environment variables of their parent applications by chaining through the program segment prefix (PSP). This functionality is not provided under Windows NT if the parent is a 32-bit application.

When an MS-DOS-based application starts from a single command shell (SCS), it inherits a new copy of environment variables. Any attempts by the application to modify its parent's environment variables are unsuccessful. When the application closes, the SCS is restored to its original state. If another MS-DOS-based application starts, none of the changes the first application made exist.

However, if the parent is another MS-DOS-based application, environment variables can be modified by the child application and used by the parent.

Additional query words: prodnt
Keywords : kbenv ntconfig NTSrvWkst
Version : 3.1 4.0
Platform : WinNT

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Last reviewed: March 24, 1997
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