Index: Lib/platform.py
===================================================================
--- Lib/platform.py	(revision 66090)
+++ Lib/platform.py	(working copy)
@@ -964,6 +964,9 @@
         case the command should fail.
 
     """
+    if sys.platform in ('dos','win32','win16','os2'):
+        # XXX Others too ?
+        return default
     target = _follow_symlinks(target)
     try:
         f = os.popen('file %s 2> /dev/null' % target)