General Tips for Using MS-DOS Mode

• Microsoft Windows 95

SUMMARY

You can use MS-DOS mode in Windows 95 to run MS-DOS-based programs that require exclusive use of all your computer's resources. This article contains tips on how to configure MS-DOS mode.

MORE INFORMATION

Windows 95 normally uses MS-DOS mode when it detects that a program requires it. If the program you want to run is not recognized by Windows 95, you receive an error message stating that the program cannot be run within Windows. You can then manually configure the program to use MS-DOS mode.

Once you configure a program to use MS-DOS mode, double-clicking the program's icon causes Windows 95 to switch to MS-DOS mode automatically.

Before switching to this mode, Windows 95 ends all running tasks, loads a real-mode copy of MS-DOS, and loads customized Autoexec.bat and Config.sys files if appropriate. When you exit MS-DOS mode, Windows 95 restarts.

Configuring MS-DOS Mode

To configure an MS-DOS-based program to run in MS-DOS mode, you should have a shortcut icon for the program. If there is no shortcut icon for the program, use the right mouse button to click the program's icon, and then click Create Shortcut on the menu that appears. Once there is a shortcut icon for the program, follow these steps to configure the program to use MS-DOS mode:

1. Use the right mouse button to click the shortcut icon, and then click Properties on the menu that appears.

2. On the Program tab, click Advanced.

3. Click the "Prevent MS-DOS-based programs from detecting Windows" check box to select it.

4. Click OK.

5. Try to run the program by double-clicking its shortcut icon. If the program runs, stop here. If the program still does not run, continue with these steps.

6. Use the right mouse button to click the shortcut icon, and then click Properties on the menu that appears.

7. On the Program tab, click Advanced.

8. Click the MS-DOS Mode check box to select it.

9. Click OK.

10. Try to run the program by double-clicking its shortcut icon. If the program runs, stop here. If the program still does not run, continue with these steps.

11. Use the right mouse button to click the shortcut icon, and then click Properties on the menu that appears.

12. On the Program tab, click Advanced.

13. Click the Specify A New MS-DOS Configuration option button. This option lets you specify a custom Config.sys and Autoexec.bat file for the program. The custom configuration is in effect for this program only.

Specifying a New MS-DOS configuration

To change the configuration to suit the program, follow these steps:

1. Review the lines in the Config.sys For MS-DOS Mode and Autoexec.bat For MS-DOS Mode boxes. Make any necessary changes directly in the boxes.

   NOTE: If you must add a driver or program for every MS-DOS based program you run, create a new file called Dosstart.bat in the Windows directory. Add the driver or program to this file.

2. If a program does not run or performs poorly because of insufficient memory or the lack of a driver, click the Configuration button to choose the options you want for the program. To learn the purpose of each option, click the option's text and then read the description. Click the options you want, and then click OK.

   NOTE: Using these options removes any entries you may have already made in the Config.sys For MS-DOS Mode and Autoexec.bat For MS-DOS Mode boxes.

   WARNING: Although some MS-DOS-based programs require direct disk access, most do not. Use this option with caution. Using this option can allow an MS-DOS-based program to destroy long filename support in Windows 95.

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q77083
   TITLE: Optimizing Your Use Of Upper Memory Blocks

Default Changes to Configuration Files

When you start MS-DOS mode, new Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files are created. The following lines are added automatically by Windows 95:

The first line of the Config.sys file:

   DOS=SINGLE

   REM
   REM The following lines have been created by Windows.
   REM Do not modify them.
   CD \<directory of the application>
   CALL <name of application>
   <Windows>\WIN.COM /WX

Troubleshooting

• Windows 95 does not restart after you quit the MS-DOS-based program.

  Type "win /w" (without quotation marks) at the command prompt to restart Windows 95.

• The program does not run in MS-DOS mode because of an incorrect configuration.

  Add the appropriate lines in the Advanced Program Settings dialog box.

REFERENCES

For additional information about the process that occurs when you restart your computer in MS-DOS mode, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q138996
   TITLE     : Description of Restarting Computer in MS-DOS Mode

   ARTICLE-ID: Q132994
   TITLE     : Games (A-H) Requiring or Performing Better in MS-DOS Mode

   ARTICLE-ID: Q132995
   TITLE     : Games (I-Q) Requiring or Performing Better in MS-DOS Mode

   ARTICLE-ID: Q132996
   TITLE     : Games (R-Z) Requiring or Performing Better in MS-DOS Mode