Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!ucsd!pacbell.com!pacbell!att!mcdchg!ddsw1!obdient!vpnet!cak
From: cak@vpnet.chi.il.us (Cindi Knox)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.programmer
Subject: Re: Setting the path variable in autoexec.bat
Keywords: path
Message-ID: <2693ccb6-f2.3comp.sys.ibm.pc.programmer-1@vpnet.chi.il.us>
Date: 6 Jul 90 01:55:04 GMT
References: <1102@valinor.ACA.MCC.COM> <857@bbt.UUCP>
Lines: 36


The system performance comment is all too true. As I am in the repair
biz, I get a lot of strange stuff. Two common problems:

     "If I type a wrong name for a program, the computer `locks up' for
      a while' "

SOLUTION: Shorten the path. (The system takes a look EVERYWHERE for the
          program before giving up) Also causes various errors when a 
          program is found in another directory but needs files found in
          said directory. PATH doesn't help that. 
ALSO TRY: PATH C:\BIN;C:\USR\BIN;C:\USR\BAT;..
          the .. will get programs out of the parent directory. Useful
          when you divide up files (BASIC\GAMES, BASIC\COMM, BASIC\CAD)

     "My hard disk needs to be replaced. It's slowing down"

CAUSE:    User has 4 subdirectories on a 10MB hard disk. Root has DOS,
          transient programs from DOS, CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT. 
          Three subdirs have very little, the fourth has EVERYTHING
          THIS PERSON EVER USED, WROTE, PRINTED, or GAVE UP ON! The
          disk is near capacity and the directory (itself a file) is
          split up on the disk due to fragmentation. A full directory
          listing takes FIVE MINUTES! Another symptom was "FILE CREATION
          ERROR" due to the fact there was no directory space. 

SOLUTION: I hate to say it, but Apple has the right idea when they call
          directories ``folders.'' USE A DIRECTORY LIKE A FILE FOLDER!
          You wouldn't stuff everything in one folder, would you?


             I doubt any of these opinions are those of my employer.
                   I don't agree with ANYTHING they say.

Cindi Knox          | You've got a lot of living to do without life.
                    | 
cak@vpnet.chi.il.us | ``Little Miss S.'' by  Edie Brickell and New Bohemians.