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2.11
Configuring
The
System
ABOUT
THE
AUTOEXEC
/
CONFIG
The
autoexec.bat and the config.sys were files created for MS-DOS and Windows 3.x
as an easy solution of loading the files required for various devices as well
as the operating system to properly run. These files are required for later
revisions of MS-DOS and Windows 3.x to load. However because Microsoft is
trying to steer away from Windows these files are not required for Windows 95,
Windows 98, Windows NT or Windows 2000.
HOW
TO EDIT THE FILES
The auotexec.bat
and
the config.sys
are
most
commonly
edited
by
the
MS-DOS
command
file
Edit.
To
edit
these
files
type edit c:\autoexec.bat
to
edit
the
autoexec.bat
file
or edit c:\config.sys
to
edit
the
config.sys
file.
If
the
mouse
drivers
are
no
loaded
properly
you
will
not
have
the
capability
of
navigating
the
mouse.
On
our
edit
page
we
have
listed
If you have Windows 95 or Windows
98 it is recommended that you use the sysedit command to run this
program click Start / Run and type sysedit.
REMARKING
INFORMATION
Remarking
lines within the autoexec.bat or the config.sys allows you to temporarily or
permanently prevent a line from loading each time you boot the computer. The
method most commonly used is placing "REM" in front of the
file you wish to skip.
If you are
encountering issues with a line in the autoexec.bat it is highly recommended
that you remark the line instead of removing it. This will prevent issues from
arising if the line needs to be placed back into the appropriate file.
AUTOEXEC.BAT
LAYOUT
The following is an example of
what an autoexec may look like:
@C:\PROGRA~1\NORTON~1\NAVDX.EXE
/startup
@ECHO OFF
PATH=C:\IBMTOOLS;C:\MSSQL7\BINN
PATH=D:\TCWIN45\BIN;%PATH%
PATH=D:\TCWIN451\BIN;%PATH%
REM [Header]
DOSKEY
REM [CD-ROM Drive]
REM [Miscellaneous]
REM [Display]
REM [Sound, MIDI, or Video
Capture Card]
REM [Mouse]
PATH=%PATH%;
SET
PATH=C:\PROGRA~1\SYMANTEC\PCANYW~1\;%PATH%
PATH=%PATH%;"C:\Program
Files\Mts"
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Command
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Explanation
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@echo off
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Tells DOS to
just read the lines but don't echo them back to the screen.
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SET
SOUND=C:\PROGRA~1\CREATIVE\CTSND
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This example
is for the particular sound card that we have in one of the machines that we
have. The set sound is telling the computer to send all sound events that the
computer may run to that directory.
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SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1
H5 P330 E620 T6
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Tells the computer to set the
sound blaster settings, this is a good line for games players, if you have
this line in your autoexec.bat you will know all settings for your sound
card. A220 =
port
address
"220",
I5
=
IRQ
5,
D1
=
DMA
1
usually
being
the
settings
you
will
need
for
any
game
out
on
the
market.
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LH
C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\MSCDEX.EXE
/D:123
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Line used
for the CD-ROM, if you have
Windows
95+
the
MSCDEX
will
always
be
in
the
C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND
Windows
3.x
or
DOS
usually
be
either
in
C:\DOS
or
C:\WINDOWS
directory.
The
/D:123
is
the
name
of
the
driver
name
that
loads
in
upper
memory
this
can
be
anything
usually
/D:MSCD0001
however
this
is
not
an
actual
driver
this
is
just
the
name
for
the
driver.
Ensure
if
you
change
this
line
that
you
change
it
in
the
config.sys
on
your
CD-ROM
line
if
the
two
are
not
the
same
your
CD-ROM
drive
will
not
load.
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LH
C:\MOUSE\MOUSE.EXE
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Load
the
mouse
driver,
however
each
mouse
is
different
usually
however
the
mouse
driver
will
be
either
mouse.com
or
mouse.sys
the
sys
file
loading
in
the
config.sys.
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DOSKEY
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Simple dos command to load DOSKEY into memory so
when in DOS you can use it without having to load it.
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CLS
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MS-DOS command to clear screen.
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WIN
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Used for users using Windows
3.x, this line will load windows automatically when booting the computer.
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CONFIG.SYS
LAYOUT
The following is an example of
what the config.sys may look like:
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DOS=HIGH,UMB
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE
NOEMS
FILES=30
STACKS=0,0
BUFFERS=20
DEVICEHIGH=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\ANSI.SYS
DEVICEHIGH=C:\MTMCDAI.SYS
/D:123
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Command
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Explanation
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DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
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The
Himem.sys
line
is
a
very
important
line
this
line
will
allow
you
to
load
drivers
into
high
memory
if
this
line
is
not
present,
Windows
3.x
will
not
load
up.
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DOS=HIGH,UMB
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This
line
will
load
DOS
into
high
memory
in
a
Upper
memory
Block.
Note
the
location
usually
best
placed
after
the
HIMEM.SYS.
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DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE
NOEMS
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The
EMM386
line
loads
the
Extended
memory
manager,
however
note
that
some
MS-DOS
games
have
problems
with
Extended
memory
and
will
not
run
without
the
NOEMS
statement.
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FILES=30
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The files line allow windows to
load 30 files at the same time usually however going higher may decrease the
computer's performance 30 is found to work the best. Also ensure that this
line is all as one line and that there is not a space between and after the
=.
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STACKS=0,0
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The stacks line was first used
in MS-DOS 3.2 and was used to swap the stack whenever an asynchronous
hardware interrupt occurred. Later in MS-DOS 3.3 the line STACKS=0,0 was
added into the config.sys. In special circum stances this line was changed to
STACKS=9,128.
The STACKS statement has a
range of 8-64, 32-512. If a higher value is entered you will receive a FATAL
: Internal Stack Failure, System Halted error message.
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BUFFERS=20
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Buffers line is to load buffers
into memory allowing windows to load memory.
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DEVICEHIGH=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\ANSI.SYS
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The
ansi.sys
line
is
a
driver
for
DOS
to
allow
you
to
have
different
colors
/
size's
and
special
characters
at
the
DOS
prompt.
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DEVICEHIGH=C:\MTMCDAI.SYS
/D:123
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This line is the name of the
CD-ROM driver on the particular system we are working on the /D:123
represents the name of the driver which in this case is named 123 however can
be named anything usually MSCD0001. Note however that /D:123 must be exactly
the same in config.sys and autoexec.bat, if they are different the CD-ROM
will not work in DOS.
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LASTDRIVE=
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Allows you to specify the last
drive installed on the computer. It is not recommended this line be used
unless you are using Windows 3.11 or below. This line can cause issues with
Windows 95 & 98 and will generally be remarked by Windows automatically.
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FCBS=
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Line
used
to
specify
the
number
of
file-control
blocks
for
file
sharing.
This
line
should
only
be
used
when
programs
require
it
and
today
is
generally
not
used
or
required.
FCBS
can
utilize
between
1
and
255.
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