Windows 95 MenuDOS Mode and Windows 95/98Full screen

      To run old programs with Windows 95/98 sometimes requires special settings or even running the computer in Pure DOS (Real) Mode. There are settings you can try in order to run the program in a DOS window. Microsoft has a list of programs that will not run or will not run properly in a Windows environment.

There are three ways to run in DOS mode:

  • DOS Icons-which allow you to have an Icon or menu item which will restart the computer with the configuration for the program and start the program. Probably the most convenient

  • Boot Menus-which allow you to choose a mode when you start the computer.

  • Shut down to MS-DOS Mode-which is the most restrictive. You can have many drivers loaded during the shutdown, but those that must be loaded by the CONFIG.SYS file must be loaded before Windows starts. This means they may use memory and cause conflicts while Windows is running.

    • Notes about using DOS ICONS.  

    DOS Window

          When you run a DOS program in a window, you can set the window to provide some of the environments that the program may need to run properly.
    1) Open the "Explorer" or "My Computer". Move to the file that launches the program. You may have to click on View, Options and make sure "Hide MS-DOS extensions for file types that are registered" is not checked.
    2) Right click on the file and select Properties (or select Properties from the file menu).
    3) Select the Memory Tab.
     

          You can provide EMS memory for a program that needs it in a window for that program without specifying this memory at bootup. If you know what the memory requirements are for the program, you can specify those specific numbers. If you specify too much or let Windows select "Automatically", this may limit how much memory is left for other windows. If you like to have 3 or 4 different DOS games or programs running simultaneously (so when you get bored with one you can just switch to the other), having each one use only the memory it needs can help them all run better. Of course, if you only run one program at a time, you could almost get along without Windows.

     

    On my computer, I get the following for EMS memory:

          This is because I have "NOEMS" on the emm386.exe line of my CONFIG.SYS file. If you boot with no lines in the CONFIG.SYS file, Windows can provide this memory in this window. Or you can have "RAM" in place of "NOEMS" and windows can provide this memory for the program.

          With the basic Windows bootup, you will be lucky to have more than 560kb of Conventional Memory in a window. If you specify HIMEM.SYS and EMM386.EXE and accompanying settings in the CONFIG.SYS file, you can get more than 615kb of Conventional Memory in a window.

     

    Although the box here allows "HMA" use, if the boot files are not set to load devices and programs in High Memory, much of the Conventional Memory will be used.

     

          If you use the computer for DOS games sometimes and all Windows programs at other times, Boot Menus allow you to boot with the optimum settings for the Windows session you will run. The configuration you use for DOS game playing in Windows may not work well when you are logging onto the Internet. Also, some Windows programs may slow down when the computer configured for DOS programs.

     

    DOS Icons

          If you have a DOS type program that will not run in Windows, you will have to restart the computer in MS-DOS mode. Clicking on the "Shut Down Windows" menu and selecting "Restart the computer in MS-DOS Mode" will only make drivers loaded at boot and by the "DOSSTART.BAT" available. If these are adequate for the DOS mode game or program, they will probably interfere with Windows or slow Windows down.

          You can create an Icon or menu item that will shut down Windows and restart the computer, load only the drivers needed for that program, then start the program in DOS mode. You can put an Icon on the desktop for the program. That way you can start the program with just a click of the mouse, like any windows program.

    1) Open the "Explorer" or "My Computer". Move to the file that launches the program. You may have to click on View, Options and make sure "Hide MS-DOS extensions for file types that are registered" is not checked.
    2) Right click on the file and select Properties (or select Properties from the file menu).
    3) You can enter the name for the game (or program) in the top box.
     

    4) Click on "Advanced".

     
    5) At the top you will see the name of the file being created. Click on "MS-DOS Mode". The lower section becomes active.
    6) Check "Warn before entering MS-DOS Mode". If you click on the Icon, you will be given a chance to change your mind.
    7) Check "Specify a new MS-DOS configuration". The main purpose of this is to create an optimal environment for the DOS program.
    8) In the CONFIG.SYS box will be the configuration the computer is currently running on. If you have Multiple Boot configurations specified, the selection you booted on will be shown.
    Here you must put the lines that you will need in the CONFIG.SYS file. You may need to set up the CDROM.
    9) In the lower box is the AUTOEXEC.BAT file contents for what the computer booted from.
    You must put the lines that you will need in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. You may want access to a ZIP drive, Network, Soundcard drivers and settings and you will most likely need the mouse set up.
    10) Click OK to save the settings. You can edit this file in the same manner if you need to.
    11) Make an Icon for the Desktop and/or add this item to a menu.

          Now, when you click on this item, Windows will create bootup files for the program and restart the computer to run the program. When you exit the program, Windows will restore the normal boot files and restart the computer.

          You can have as many programs set up this way as you need. Depending on the memory requirements you could have a DOS MENU batch file so you can switch to different games without starting Windows each time you want to run a different DOS game.

     

    Notes on using DOS Icons
          When you run a program using this method, the normal AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files are renamed and replaced with files used to boot the computer for the DOS game or program. The AUTOEXEC.BAT will have a script that reloads the original boot files when you exit the DOS program.

          Sometimes this fails. This leaves you stuck in the DOS mode. The first method to recover from this is to (at the DOS Prompt) type:
    c:\windows\win /w
    This should restore the normal settings if the autoexec.bat file has an error in it. If that fails, you can restore the original by copying the original files back. To see if they are there, type:

    dir c:\config.*
    dir c:\autoexec.*
    You should see a list of files which include:
    config.sys
    config.wos
    autoexec.bat
    autoexec.wos
    The files with the "WOS" extension are the original boot files. If Windows finds these files, it will stay in the DOS mode (unless those files start Windows). You don't want to delete these files if they are your original boot files. You can rename the CONFIG.SYS file and AUTOEXEC.BAT file with other names instead of deleting them, if you are not sure. You can restore them by typing:
    del c:\config.sys
    ren c:\config.wos c:\config.sys
    del c:\autoexec.bat
    ren c:\autoexec.wos c:\autoexec.bat
    If you do rename them, be sure to delete them if the system returns to normal. Otherwise, you could end up with a collection of files with no use.
     

    The CONFIG.SYS file 

    DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS /testmem:offThe most necessary line.
    DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE RAMOptional; If your program needs EMS memory, you must specify RAM. If not, you can change RAM to NOEMS so all memory is available for XMS memory.
    DOS=HIGH,UMBThis moves the boot system into the upper memory to free up Conventional memory. UMB provides blocks of upper memory for other devices to be loaded in.
    DEVICEHIGH=C:\CDROM\CDROM.SYS /D:IDECD001If you will need access to the CDROM Drive, you must set up the DOS Mode drivers. DEVICEHIGH= loads the driver into the UMB.
    BUFFERSHIGH=40BUFFERS= Provides a temporary storage for DOS programs. BUFFERSHIGH= (Windows 95 and later) frees more conventional memory.
    FILESHIGH=40FILES= Allows Programs with multiple scenes or windows memory for running them. FILESHIGH= (Windows 95 and later) frees more conventional memory.
     

    The AUTOEXEC.BAT file 

    ECHO OFFThis option keeps the commands from being double presented on the screen.
    path=c:\windows\;c:\windows\commandOptional; adding a directory will make commands in that directory work from any directory.
    SET BLASTER=A220 I7 D1 H5 P330 T6Optional; If the program uses sound, you will need soundcard settings and drivers for your soundcard.
    lh c:\mouse\mouse.comOptional; You will probably need the Mouse. lh loads the program in high memory.
    lh c:\windows\command\mscdex.exe /d:idecd001 /vOptional; If you need the CDROM at DOS, add this in combination with the CONFIG.SYS CDROM reference. If you specify a letter for the drive in Windows (which I prefer) it can cut confusion if you specify the same letter in DOS mode.
     

    DOS MODE from the Shutdown Menu

          If you select "Restart the computer in MS-DOS Mode" from the Shutdown Menu, the file "c:\windows\dosstart.bat" is run. This file can basically contain the same commands that the autoexec.bat can contain. But it cannot load devices such as those in the CONFIG.SYS file. So, while you can load the CDROM from the DOSSTART.BAT, if the driver wasn't loaded in the CONFIG.SYS file, the CDROM cannot be loaded.

          Another program you may want to load here is the Mouse driver. Use the same commands that you would use in the AUTOEXEC.BAT. If the DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS is setup in the CONFIG.SYS file and DOS=UMB is also set up, you can use the LH to load the programs in high memory.

          Because memory has been used by Windows, most programs will load low. If there is adequate resources to run the DOS program, fine. This method loads faster and you can go back to Windows Mode faster. But if it doesn't work, you can use DOS Mode Icons or Boot Menus. Both of those give you more control over the program.


     

    DOS MENU BATCH FILE

          You can create a Batch file to be called up by the DOS ICON which will list several DOS MODE programs. You can run these and return to the menu when you close them rather than the computer rebooting when you close a program. When you exit the menu, the computer returns to normal operation. Depending on the drivers you load, it can be a colorful menu as well.
    DOS Games Menu
    A) Game 1
     B) Game 2
     C) Game 3
     Q) Quit this menu and return to Windows.

    Type the letter of your choice!

          The DOS Mode boot files must contain the Memory managers, Mouse drivers, Sound drivers, CDROM drivers as needed for the program you will run. You also need the ANSI.SYS driver if you want color on your menus.

          See BATCH Files for information on creating a menu.

          If you want the computer to return to Windows when you exit the DOS Program Menu Batch (whatever you name it), under the AUTOEXEC.BAT section, use call to run the batch as
    call c:\dosmenu.bat
    Otherwise you will return to the DOS prompt when you exit the batch file.


     

    Microsoft Knowledgebase Articles:
    General Tips for Using MS-DOS Mode
    Games (A-H) Requiring or Performing Better in MS-DOS Mode
    Games (I-Q) Requiring or Performing Better in MS-DOS Mode
    Games (R-Z) Requiring or Performing Better in MS-DOS Mode
    How to Run Automatic Commands When Starting in MS-DOS Mode
    How to Increase Conventional Memory for MS-DOS-Based Programs
    Description of Restarting Computer in MS-DOS Mode

    Virtual Dr.
    Dos Games in Dos 7.0 (Win 98SE)


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    Updated May 4, 2001
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