While attempting to load a game my 13 yr old searched, found and clicked a line pertaining to EMS memory. Now when booting the computer, win98 reverts to DOS and shows as follows

******************************************
** Win 98 MS-DOS Mode **
** Expanded Memory (EMS) Support **
** **
** Type EXIT to return to Windows **
******************************************

If I type EXIT the computer reboots and windows reverts to DOS again.

I have pondered the problem and started Win98 in safe mode. I run sysedit and find lots of info in my autoexec.bat All lines NOT preceded by REM are as follows

@ECHO OFF
SET TMP=C:\windows\TEMP
SET TEMP=C:\windows\TEMP
SET PROMPT=MS.DOS mode $p$g
SET WINBOOTDIR=C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND
SET PATH=C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND

then after a number of lines preceded by'REM' I find

CLS
ECHO***************************************
ECHO** Win 98 MS-DOS Mode **
ECHO** Expanded Memory (EMS) Support **
ECHO** **
ECHO** Type EXIT to return to Windows **
ECHO***************************************

THEN AFTER A NUMBER OF LINES PRECEDED BY REM (ONE OF WHICH SAYS THE FOLLOWING WAS ADDED BY WINDOWS AND NOT TO REMOVE) IT READS

C:
CD C:\WINDOWS
CALL C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND.COM
C:\WINDOWS\WIN.COM/WX

My intuition encourages me to type REM at the front of the
CALL C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND.COM line

Would this allow the computer to boot to windows? My intuition has dug me some pretty deep holes before

I haven't a clue what I'm doing ... really.
Is anyone there?

densch99

Sometimes sofware, particularly games, will rename the config.sys and autoexec.bat files and create their own versions. When the software is exited normally the new versions are replaced with the original ones. However, if the software is not exited normally you get stuck with the new versions. Try this: Start up the computer. Before the OS starts to load, start tapping F8. A menu should come up. Choose 'safe mode command prompt only'. At the c:\> prompt type:

ren c:\autoexec.bat autoexec.xxx and enter. Then
ren c:\autoexec.wos autoexec.bat and enter. Then
ren c:\config.sys config.xxx and enter. Then
ren c:\config.wos config.sys and enter.

Then reboot normally.

That will manually make the change. Post back if you get a 'file not found' message.

Thanks for responding DAVE,

As you suggest the message after entering line # 2 was
"file not found c:\autoexec.wos"

any suggestions?

densch99

If you are just anxious to get your machine to boot up normally then simply disable them by renaming them like this:

ren c:\autoexec.bat autoexec.old

ren c:\config.sys config.old

They are only needed for DOS games (or other DOS programs). Windows doesn't need them but it won't boot if there is problematic info inside them. They are not necessary for fault finding using DOS.

The contents of the ".old" versions can still be looked at using NotePad to see if there is anything you wish to retain and they can always be renamed back from Windows if necessary. A blank autoexec.bat might arrive if you do this but it is of no consequence.

DerekW

So ... in other words, Config.sys and autoexec.bat are only needed to operate in Dos? ... does this mean I can monkey around and not be afraid of losing w98 in safe mode? ...where I can always change back whatevcer I tweaked? What a great forum !!!!
Thanks for your help ...love it!
densch99

Yep, and they are not necessary for doing tweaks/deletions etc in DOS - only for programs (usually games).

Sure, as you can get to Safe Mode you can rename them both to .old or whatever from there (without bothering with those DOS commands I gave you) and they will be disabled. With luck Windows will then start normally next boot, which is a lot easier on your eyballs.

You can then take your time deciding what lines, if any, would be useful to you.

DerekW

Fabulous ... I thank you ... and my 13 year old son will think me a computer genius! ....
like I said ..a great forum
Thanks Again
and
Happy Holidays!

densch99

Fine, but you might wish to keep the oldies kicking around (they are tiny and now do nothing) just in case some irresistable DOS game comes along and you find you need some of the lines.

Or maybe you just won't allow that sort of thing LOL...

DerekW

You may want to do a search for config.*
and autoexec.*. Any that show up in the root
directory-- C:\ --could be candidates for the original config.sys and autoexec.bat. Config.wos and autoexec.wos are the usual way they're renamed but the particular application may have named them something else.

But as Derek said, they're not absolutely necessary to run 98.

Hi, Everybody is correct about not needing Config.sys and Autoexec.Bat. Quickest way around what you have is to rename the files. Win will ignore them and you will still have them in case you decide to try to repair them. Win wont miss them at all.

Good Luck, Jim

JimPIM

Which is "exactly" what has already been said and done, so why is extra endorsement required?

DerekW

Apparently, no post is complete until it's been Pimmed.

If you have nothing to say, try saying nothing - you guys in the "Goodluck Gang" need to go and start a support group (but not here)

I'm not one of those who think Bill Gates is the devil. I simply suspect that if Microsoft ever met up with the devil, it wouldn't need an interpreter

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