You cannot start Interix or other processes at a command prompt if the environment block is larger than 16 kilobytes

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SYMPTOMS

You cannot start the Interix program or any other process at a command prompt.

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CAUSE

This problem occurs because the environment block for the command is bigger than 16 kilobytes (KB).

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A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, submit a request to Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support (http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support)

Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement

You must restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix replaces the hotfix that is described in Microsoft Knowledge Base article 838250.

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File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

   Date         Time   Version            Size    File name
   --------------------------------------------------------------
   23-Apr-2004  22:38  8.0.1969.5        130,048  Posix.exe        
   23-Apr-2004  22:39  8.0.1969.5        104,448  Psxrun.exe       
   23-Apr-2004  22:38  8.0.1969.5        763,904  Psxss.exe

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STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

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MORE INFORMATION

If you want to start the Interix program at the command prompt, first determine the size of the environment block. To do this, run the following command:

set > set.tmp && dir set.tmp && del set.tmp

The value of the set.tmp option is approximately the size of the environment block for the command prompt. Before you apply this hotfix, you cannot start Interix processes if the value of the set.tmp option is larger than 16 kilobytes (KB).

After you apply this hotfix, you can start Interix processes at a command prompt if the environment block of the calling process is smaller than 1 megabyte (MB).

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