Okay, here�s my problem�I have recently started a course for my A+ Certification. A lot of our projects require us to use DOS or MS DOS. My problem is I am not able to do these on my home computer as all the symbol keys are screwed up while in DOS mode�.(example: shift+2 makes a �). I have tried every key with a symbol on it and not one of them will give me the backslash \�so there is no way I can execute anything. It is extremely frustrating. I tried using a different keyboard�didn�t make any difference. I actually have two computers, one with Windows ME (my main computer, for which I have the Windows CD). My second computer was given to me, but I don�t have the CD for Windows (it uses Windows 95). I�ve gone into the MS DOS program and booted to DOS as well on the Windows 95 system, and I have no problem with the symbols being messed up�they�re right where they should be; however, one of our projects require the use of MSD.exe and it�s not installed on the WIN95 system and I don�t have the disk for it. I have the disk with the program for Windows ME, but it won�t do me any good if I can�t get a backslash. I have compared the properties for MS-Dos on both computers and they appear to be set up exactly the same (unless I�m missing something). I checked the keyboard under control panel and both are listed as Layout �United States 101�; however WIN 95 system has language �English (United States) and the ME computer states �English (Canadian)�. Could this have anything to do with it? One other thing I noticed was under the Utilities program for the keyboard, it says "c:\windows\system\vmm32.vxd (1,044,352 bytes), not available - is there a problem there? Any ideas on how to fix this? I�d appreciate any help, as this is really hampering my ability to do my homework�.*groan*. Thank you. ;-) Andrea

Your symbol keys are not screwed up, for example, on my United Kingdom keyboard, shift +2 gives " as expected. On the bottom row:- left of Z is a key with \ which if shifted gives | 3rd right of M is a key with / which if shifted gives ? You colonials should use English - English, after all we invented it. ---- MSD.EXE (microsoft diagnostics) is a dos program, which provides information on your pc. It should not be run in dos under windows, only in free standing dos. Possibly you may have to obtain it from a dos machine, as it might not be suppled with windows. As a matter of interest, where are you based? I am in Hammersmith, West London. Good luck - keep us posted.

Easy! you need to modify your config.sys and autoexec.bat files. My own files read: config.sys: ----------- devicehigh=C:\windows\himem.sys devicehigh=c:\windows\emm386.exe device=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\display.sys con=(ega,,1) Country=044,850,C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\country.sys autoexec.bat: ------------------- PATH C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND mode con codepage prepare=((850) C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\ega.cpi) mode con codepage select=850 keyb uk,,c:\windows\command\keyboard.sys If you make sure your 2 files look similar, then the problem should be sorted. With regard to your keyboard the important line in the config.sys is the "country=" line. In the autoexec.bat, ALL the lines are important. That's it! :)

ah! there's a problem width the display width of this b_board. It has split one line into two.... The following should be all on ONE line in your autoexec.bat: mode con codepage prepare=((850) C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\ega.cpi

Thanks for your comments you guys, and for the quick response! I read them this morning and have spent the better part of the last four hours trying to figure this out. While your comments have helped, I've still not been able to fix the problem...*sigh*...however, you've both tweaked me to a couple of other things to look at. First of all, Mike, on the bottom row to the left of Z is my CTRL key, then I have the SHIFT, CAPS LOCK and TAB keys moving up respectively....we must have different keyboard layouts. The key that gives me the | symbol (while is DOS) is above the TAB key to the left of 1...it should be ` and ~, instead I get # and when Shifted |. My backslash key is on the right side below "backspace", and when shifted I get |, in other applications. The 3rd key to the right of M is the same though. BTW, I do know MSD.exe should not be run under Windows, but I was just comparing the two to see if I could notice any difference in the properties...*grin* Anyway, this is what I've found out in the last four hours, by searching more of the articles on this website (it's great, I think I'll be regular visitor...lots of useful information).... Chris, because I'm using Windows ME, it doesn't use config.sys and autoexec.bat like previous versions. You need to run msconfig utility. If you look at the config.sys file in Explorer is shows up as a file with 0 bytes (apparently ME clears out this file if you type anything into it when you reboot...I can't remember off the top of my head but it either writes to another file..msconfig maybe...or it just erases it upon reboot). So, I ran msconfig and under the International Tab I discovered the first problem, I believe...it shows the following: MS-DOS Code Page: 850 Country Code: 004 Country Data File Name: country.sys Display Data File Name: ega.cpi Keyboard Data File name: keyboard.sys Keyboard Type: blank (nothing in box) Keyboard Layout: blank again Language ID: cf (herein the first problem, I believe this stands for canadian-french which would be why I get symbols like �) The PATH command that you mention, Chris, is under the "Environment" tab. It shows the following (and they all have checkmark in box): CLASSPATH: C:\Program Files\PhotoDeluxe 2.0\AdobeConnectables;C:\Program Files\Lassaters Games PATH: C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND PROMPT: $p$g TEMP: C:\WINDOWS\TEMP TMP: C:\WINDOWS\TEMP Under the Win.ini tab, under the [intl] folder, it lists (among others) the following: iCountry=2 sCountry=Canada sLanguage=enc Under the System.ini tab, it shows the following under the [keyboard] folder: keyboard.dll= oemansi.bin=xlat850.bin subtype= type=4 The next interesting thing I found was under System Tools in the System Information. Under the Input folder in Components, it shows the following for the Keyboard Information: Description: Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard Name: enhanced (101-or 102-key) Layout: 00000409 Number of Function Keys: 12 1/O Port: 0x0060-0x0060 I/O Port: 0x0064-0x0064 IRQ Channel: IRQ 1 Driver: c:\windows\system\vmm32.vxd (, 1,019.88 KB (1,044,352 bytes), Not Available Incidentally, the Driver is not available under the Pointing Device either. Could this be another problem? Other than with DOS, my keyboard seems to work just fine. Well, this is what I've discovered so far. I apologize for the lengthy epitaph, but I thought if I wrote all this down, one of you, or someone else, may be able to tell me where the conflict is. Obviously, the "cf" setting under the International Tab is a problem, but there may be a conflict somewhere else (or maybe I just need to change the CF to ?). Thanks again! Now it's time for me to study. ;-) PS...I'm from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Andrea

Me again... Chris, this is what my autoexec.bat file looks like (maybe it's just the config.sys file that ME clears out): C:\>SET CLASSPATH=C:\Program Files\PhotoDeluxe 2.0\AdobeConnectables;C:\Program Files\Lasseters Games\ C:\>SET windir=C:\WINDOWS C:\>SET winbootdir=C:\WINDOWS C:\>SET COMSPEC=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND.COM C:\>SET PATH=C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND C:\>SET PROMPT=$p$g C:\>SET TEMP=C:\WINDOWS\TEMP C:\>SET TMP=C:\WINDOWS\TEMP C:\> Should I try just adding the: mode con codepage prepare=((850) C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\ega.cpi to the SET PATH line? Would I edit this in Notepad and then save over the autoexec.bat file on my C drive (since I can't get the \ in DOS)? Though I think I still need to do something else in msconfig if, as in previous windows versions, the autoexec.bat and config.sys files should be similar? That "cf" in msconfig is definately incorrect. I'll do some more searching on this site, to see if I can find any other posts that may tell me more about this, in the meantime. Andrea

I feel there is some silly mismatch between your keyboard and system setup that we are all missing here. From your original posting I am not clear whether the problem is on both your pc's or only one. Also you state different english language setups are being used, then elsewhere cf is used. Suggest check out the special characters table for each setup you have. This table normally can be found in printer manual appendix. I note your comments regarding your k/b layout being different to mine, but that is to be expected. You advise it has a \ and if so the correct code will have been sent to your pc and then it goes wrong. Is the k/b a canadian french k/b and as such has the special cf characters on some keys. Are you aware that sometimes keys are used for three characters e.g. (lower)` (shift)� (alt gr)� Check out KEYB using dos help. I use W98 and my autoexec, contains the line:- KEYB UK,,C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\KEYBOARD.SYS Good luck - keep us posted.