SYMPTOMS
You may receive the following error message when you try to start Microsoft
Windows or run Microsoft Windows Setup:
Error Loading PROGMAN.EXE
MORE INFORMATION
The following sections cover the different causes of the above error
message.
Incorrect or Missing SHELL= Line
You receive the error message if the SHELL= line in the [boot] section of
your SYSTEM.INI file is missing or is set to a file that does not exist.
Under Windows version 3.0, you receive an unrecoverable application error
(UAE) if the SHELL= line is missing or set incorrectly.
The SHELL= line in the [boot] section of the SYSTEM.INI file should
read as follows:
SHELL=PROGMAN.EXE
If this error continues, or if an undefined dynalink error occurs, check
the [boot] section in the SYSTEM.INI file for the line referring to
SYSTEM.DRV=. This line must be present and should read as follows (unless
it is modified by a third-party application, such as Adobe Type Manager):
SYSTEM.DRV=SYSTEM.DRV
Incorrect Version of SHELL.DLL
Earlier releases of the SHELL.DLL file may prevent Program Manager from
starting. Use the EXPAND utility (EXPAND.EXE) to expand the correct version
of SHELL.DLL to the Windows SYSTEM directory. The following is an example
of the command to be used with the EXPAND utility from Windows 3.1:
expand <a>:shell.dl_ <c>:\windows\system\shell.dll
The drive letters (<a> and <c> in this example) vary depending on the
location of the source and destination of your files. SHELL.DL_ can be
found on Disk 5 (5.25-inch) or on Disk 4 (3.5-inch) of the Windows 3.1
operating system disks.
Earlier versions of PROGMAN.EXE do not work with the new SHELL.DLL file.
Use the EXPAND command to expand the correct version of PROGMAN.EXE to the
Windows directory. For example, if you are expanding PROGMAN.EX from a disk
in drive a to C:\WINDOWS, type the following command:
expand a:progman.ex_ c:\windows\progman.exe
The drive letters (<a> and <c> in this example) vary depending on the
location of the source and destination of your files. PROGMAN.EX_ can be
found on Disk 4 (5.25-inch) or on Disk 4 (3.5-inch) of the Windows 3.1
operating system disks.
VSafe Virus-Scanning Software
The VSAFE.SYS and/or VSAFE.COM virus-protection programs can cause the
above error message. To correct this problem, remove VSAFE.SYS from the
CONFIG.SYS file, and remove VSAFE.COM from the LOAD= line in the WIN.INI
file and your Startup group.
CHKLIST.MS File in the Windows Directory
Microsoft Anti-Virus creates CHKLIST.MS files and places them in almost
every directory that it checks. If a CHKLIST.MS file is placed in the
Windows directory, the error message above is generated. To correct this
problem, delete the CHKLIST.MS file from your Windows directory.
NOTE: The file may be reinserted in the directory the next time you use
Anti-Virus; you must delete the file again if the error message reappears.
The [boot] Section Heading is Missing in Your SYSTEM.INI File
To correct this problem use a text editor such as Microsoft MS-DOS Editor
to edit the SYSTEM.INI file and add the correct heading.
The PROGMAN.INI File is Corrupt
To correct this problem use a text editor such as Microsoft MS-DOS Editor
to edit the PROGMAN.INI file and correct entries.