Author: Mike S.
Date: 07:39:56 09/04/00
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On September 04, 2000 at 08:22:46, Gerald Grimsley wrote: >Hello, can someone tell me how to get a "True" DOS operating environment when >running windows 98? (...) The problem is that windows 9x hides the startup process by default, and seems to do everything possible to keep the user from customizing it - although everything is still quite similar to Win 3.x ages. There are two keys to get a true DOS environmet: (1.) Backup (!), and edit the file msdos.sys in the root directory. Alternatively, you can edit this file on a *Win98 boot disk* (you may have to change your bios startup sequence settings to use such a boot disk). You may have to change the settings of the windows explorer to make this file visible, as it usually has all the attributes set (hidden, etc.), and remove the write protection of course. Here are the msdos.sys settings I use (some are user-specific!): [Paths] WinDir=C:\WINDOWS WinBootDir=C:\WINDOWS HostWinBootDrv=C [Options] BootMulti=1 BootGUI=0 BootKeys=1 BootMenu=1 BootMenuDefault=1 BootMenuDelay=2 BootMulti=1 DblSpace=0 DrvSpace=0 LoadTop=1 Logo=0 ;DoubleBuffer=1 AutoScan=1 WinVer=4.10.2222 Note the setting "BootGUI=0". This prevents the automatic start of the Win98 GUI, and you are in control of that by typing "win" (or having an autoexec.bat including this command). But this doesn't prevent some drivers from being loaded automatically, which is being done since Win95 I think. For example, himem.sys is loaded no matter if you have it in your config.sys or not. But there is a solution for this also: (2.) If you press CTRL-F5 during startup, you have a "pure" DOS with only MSDOS and command.com in memory IIRC. Of course, you would have to manually start a DOS mouse driver if desired. A mouse connected to an USB port will not work in pure DOS AFAIK (at least it doesn't on my system, as seemingly the USB port need it's own drivers.) So, your mouse should be connectet to a serial or a PS/2 port if you need it in this mode. I still use an old fashioned config.sys with startup menu (as it was introduced with DOS 6), and an autoexec.bat file not only to allow me starting a "true" DOS, but also starting the DOS CD ROM drivers if required, for example. The config.sys menu allows you to define a delay time of some seconds, before the standard start process continues. The keyboard commands like CTRL-F5 are displayed there; important is another one which allows to go through the batch files "step by step" (I need this mode for M-Chess 7.1 if the program wants to check the CD copy protection, as it is very difficult to have all the necessary drivers AND enough free base memory for M-Chess at the same time. I do not wonder why some just don't want DOS programs anymore...). I'm afraid that's too much to describe here, but hopefully there's detailed documentation and advice for all this on many places at the web. Don't forget that it is possible to use, and edit, a boot disk, if you want to avoid problems with the original configuration files on your harddisk. Such a boot disk can be generated in Windows 98, in the system settings/software section. Good luck! Regards, M.Scheidl
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