Ok I have 2 beginner DOS type questions. 1. What does the following command do? copy config.sys con 2. When booting up DOS from a floppy, is the autoexec.bat file the 1st thing executed (even before executing config.sys) and if so can I add someting in the autoexec file that will print out to the screen every single thing that is occuring up until the OS presents the DOS prompt? (ok that was 3 questions) Thanks

Copy con is an archaic method of creating a text file. DOS Edit is much better - especially the version in Win9x. Autoexec.bat is the last thing that runs from a normal DOS boot - here's the typical sequence of events The rest is up to you - Google can be helpful I'm not saying there should be a capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself?

Excellent! That's exactly what I was looking for. Now I'm armed AND dangerous :-) Thanks jboy.

I would tend to agree Copy con can be useful if you're stuck without a proper editor (or the hideous Edlin) but the standalone Ed.com from Win95 is preferred. Instead of messing about with bootdisks, you might try using the multi-config feature introduced in DOS6. An indispensable tool for learning DOS syntax is the DOS6 Help/Qbasic application I'm not saying there should be a capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself?

DOSnew, jboy, Correct, copy con can be used to create a file without a real editor. As in copy con my.txt The line NEW posted: copy config.sys con "puts the file on screen" so you can see it without a real viewer. HTH M2

Sure - that was nagging at me: "copy to console" - you can also use type or more (if present) Still, they're old conventions, and usually there are better options I'm not saying there should be a capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself?

Just to add some more. CON: is a reserved input/output device like for example A: or C: You can copy files to and from it. The input part is the keyboard and the output part is the screen. Nigel