Select the product you need help with

"Out of Environment Space" Running Batch File or Command Prompt

Article ID: 261825 - View products that this article applies to.

Retired KB Content Disclaimer

This article was previously published under Q261825

Expand all | Collapse all

SYMPTOMS

When you start a batch file or use a command prompt, you may receive the following error message:

Out of environment space

Back to the top | Give Feedback

CAUSE

The default space for environment variables is 256 bytes by default. More environment variables are being set than can fit in 256 bytes.

Back to the top | Give Feedback

RESOLUTION

To work around this issue, use one of the following methods:

Method 1

Right-click the MS-DOS Prompt shortcut, and then click Properties.
Click the Memory tab.
In the Initial Environment box, set the initial environment size you want (from 256 to 4,096 bytes, in 256-byte increments).
Click OK.

Method 2

Edit the Autoexec.bat file to include any environment variables that you need to set, and then reboot the computer. The changes are incorporated into the registry and the environment variable size is increased.

Back to the top | Give Feedback

MORE INFORMATION

Windows Millennium Edition ignores Config.sys statements to increase the environment variable size.

For a list of command-line options, type command.com /?.

Back to the top | Give Feedback

Properties

Article ID: 261825 - Last Review: January 27, 2007 - Revision: 1.2

APPLIES TO

Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition

kberrmsg kbprb kbshell KB261825

Retired KB Content Disclaimer

This article was written about products for which Microsoft no longer offers support. Therefore, this article is offered "as is" and will no longer be updated.

Back to the top | Give Feedback