Explaining MSDOS. System 
Explaining MSDOS. System
MSDOS System Explained:
Since MSDOS.SYS is a hidden file, you have to configure Windows95 to show hidden files
before you can edit it.
The Windows 95 Setup program creates a file called msdos.sys in the root directory and
sets the file's Read-Only System, and Hidden attributes. Unlike the msdos.sys file in
earlier versions of DOS, this file is a text file. It contains a [Paths] section that
lists the locations for other Windows 95 files (such as the registry file) and an
[Options] section that you can use to personalize the boot process.
It can contain the following Path settings:
HostWinBootDrv={Root of Boot Drive}
Default: C
Purpose: Specifies the location for the root of the boot drive.
WinBootDir={Windows Directory}
Default: Directory specified during Setup (for example, C:\WINDOWS)
Purpose: Lists the location of the necessary files for booting.
WinDir={Windows Directory}
Default: Directory specified during Setup (for examples C:\WINDOWS)
Purpose: Lists the location of the Windows 95 directory specified during Setup.
It can contain the following Options settings:
BootDelay={Seconds}
Default: 2
Purpose: Sets the amount of time the "Starting Windows" message remains on the
screen before Windows 95 continues to boot.
BootFailSafe={Boolean}
Default: 0
Purpose: A setting of 1 forces your computer to boot in safe mode.
BootGUI={Boolean}
Default: 1
Purpose: A setting of 1 forces the loading of the GUI interface. A setting of 0 disables
the loading of the GUI interface.
BootKeys={Boolean}
Default: 1
Purpose: A setting of 1 enables the use of the function key boot options (that is, F4, F5,
F6, and F8). A setting of 0 disables the use of these function keys during the boot
process.
NOTE: A setting of BootKeys=0 overrides the use of BootDelay=n.
BootMenu={Boolean}
Default: 0
Purpose: A setting of 1 enables the startup menu. If this setting is 0, then you must
press the F8 key when "Starting Windows" appears to invoke the startup menu.
BootMenuDefault={Number}
Default: 1 if the system is running correctly, 4 if the system hung in the previous
instance
Purpose: Use this setting to set the default menu item for startup.
BootMenuDelay={Number}
Default: 30
Purpose: This setting is used to set the number of seconds your system will pause on the
startup menu. If the number of seconds counts down to 0 without intervention, the
BootMenuDefault is activated.
BootMulti={Boolean}
Default: 0
Purpose: A setting of 0 disables the multi-boot option. (For example, with a setting of 0
you cannot boot your previous operating system.) A setting of 1 enables the F4 and F8 keys
to boot your previous operating system.
NOTE: This setting is set to 0 by default to avoid the corruption of data by allowing you
to inadvertently boot MS-DOS and run a disk utility that does not recognize long
filenames.
BootWarn={Boolean}
Default: 1
Purpose: A setting of 0 disables the safe mode boot warning message and the startup menu.
BootWin={Boolean}
Default: 1
Purpose: A setting of 1 forces Windows 95 to load at startup. A setting of 0 disables
Windows 95 as your default operating system (this is useful only if you have MS-DOS
version 5.x or 6.x on the computer).
NOTE: Pressing F4 inverts the default only if BootMulti=1. (For example, pressing the F4
key with a setting of 0 forces Windows 95 to load.)
DoubleBuffer={Boolean}
Default: 0
Purpose: A setting of 1 is a conditional setting that enables double-buffering for
controllers that need it (for example, older SCSI controllers). A setting of 2 is an
unconditional setting that enables double-buffering regardless of whether the controller
needs it or not.
The best way to determine whether you need double buffering is to contact the maker of
your bus-mastering device and see whether the manufacturer supports the VDS (Virtual DMA
Services) specification. VDS is now an industry-wide
specification.
DBLSpace={Boolean}
Default: 1
Purpose: A setting of 1 allows the automatic loading of the DBLSPACE.BIN file. A setting
of 0 prevents the automatic loading of this file.
DRVSpace={Boolean}
Default: 1
Purpose: A setting of 1 allows the automatic loading of the DRVSPACE.BIN file. A setting
of 0 prevents the automatic loading of this file.
LoadTop={Boolean}
Default: 1
Purpose: A setting of 0 does not let Windows 95 load COMMAND.COM or
DRVSPACE.BIN/DBLSPACE.BIN at the top of 640K. If you are having compatibility problems
with software that makes assumptions about the available memory try setting this to 0.
Logo={Boolean}
Default: 1
Purpose: A setting of 1 forces the default Windows 95 logo to appear. A setting of 0
prevents the animated logo from being displayed. A setting of 0 also avoids hooking a
variety of interrupts that can create incompatibilities with certain
third-party memory managers.
Network={Boolean}
Default: 0
Purpose: A setting of 1 means the network was installed and adds "Start Windows,
bypassing startup files, with network support" as an option on the Windows 95 startup
menu.
It can contain the following undocumented Options settings:
DisableLog={Boolean}
Default: 0
Purpose: disables creation of bootlog.txt during startup.
The msdos.sys file also contains a section of padding characters to produce a required
file size of 1024 bytes or greater. It has been reported that the purpose of this size
requirement is anti-virus programs which may assume that the msdos.sys file is infected
with a virus if it is smaller. The presence of this file is required for your system to
boot.
All of The DOS Commands
APPEND= Allows programs to open data files in specified directories as if they were in the current directory.
ATTRIB= Displays or changes file attributes.
BREAK= Sets the Ctrl+Break check on or off. Can be used at the command prompt or in the config.sys
BUFFERS= Allocates memory for a specified number of disk buffers from within the config.sys
CALL= Calls one batch file from another without exiting from the first.
CD or CHDIR= Changes the current directory. CHCP Displays or changes the active code page.
CHKDSK= Checks a disk and displays a status report.
CHOICE= Waits for the user to choose one of a set of choices.
CLS= Clears the screen.
COMMAND= Starts a new copy of the MS-DOS Command Interpreter.
COPY= Copies the specified files.
COUNTRY= Enables MS-DOS to use country-specific conventions.
CTTY= Changes the standard Input/ Output device.
DATE= Displays or sets the system date.
DBLSPACE= Creates or configures DoubleSpace compressed drives.
DEBUG= Runs Debug, a program testing and editing tool.
DEFRAG= Reorganizes files on disks to optimize performance.
DEL= Deletes the specified files.
DELTREE= Deletes a directory and all the subdirectories and files in it.
DEVICE= Loads a specified device driver into memory from within your config.sys
DEVICEHIGH= Loads a specified device driver into the upper memory area from within your config.sys
DIR= Displays the disk directory.
DISKCOMP= Compares the contents of two floppy disks.
DISKCOPY= Copies the contents of one floppy disk to another.
DOS= Specifies from within your config.sys that DOS should maintain a link to the upper memory area, load part of itself into High Memory Area (HMA) or both.
DOSKEY= Edits command lines, recalls MS-DOS commands, and creates macros.
DOSSHELL= Starts MS-DOS Shell.
DRIVPARM= Defines parameters for devices such as disk and tape drives when you start MS-DOS. This command can only be used in the config.sys file. ECHO Sets Echo to on or off.
EDIT= Starts the MS-DOS Editor, which creates and changes ASCII files.
EMM386= Turns on or off EMM386 expanded memory support.
ERASE= Deletes the specified files. EXIT Exits to the previous command level.
EXPAND= Expands one or more compressed files.
FASTHELP= Provides help information for MS-DOS commands.
FASTOPEN= Decreases the amount of time needed to open frequently used files and directories.
FC= Compares two files or sets of files and displays the differences between them.
FCBS= Specifies from within your config.sys file the number of File Control Blocks (FCBs) that DOS can have open at the same time.
FDISK= Configures a hard disk for use with MS-DOS.
FILES= Specifies from within your config.sys the number of files that DOS can have open at one time.
FIND= Searches for a text string in a file or files.
FOR= Repeats a command for each item in a set.
FORMAT= Formats a disk for use with MS-DOS.
GOTO= Jumps to a labelled line from within the same batch file.
GRAPHICS= Loads a program that can print graphics.
HELP= Starts MS-DOS Help on MS-DOS commands.
IF= Allows conditional execution of commands from within a batch file.
INCLUDE= Includes from within your config.sys file the contents of one configuration block within another.
INSTALL= Loads a memory resident program into memory from within your config.sys file.
INTERLNK= Connects two computers via parallel or serial ports and enables the computers to share disks and printer ports.
INTERSVR= Provides serial or parallel file transfer and printing capabilities via redirected drives.
KEYB= Configures a keyboard for a specific language.
LABEL= Creates, changes, or deletes the volume label of a disk.
LASTDRIVE= Specifies in your config.sys file the maximum number of drives you can access.
LH - LOADHIGH= Loads a program into upper memory.
LOADFIX= Loads a program above the first 64K of memory, and runs the program.
MEM= Displays the amount of used and free memory in your system.
MEMMAKER= Runs the MemMaker memory-optimization program.
MENUCOLOR= Sets the text and background colours for the startup menu in the config.sys file.
MENUDEFAULT= Specifies the default menu item on the startup menu in the config.sys file.
MENUITEM= Defines an item on the startup menu in the config.sys file.
MD - MKDIR= Makes (creates) a new directory.
MODE= Configures system devices.
MORE= Displays output one screen at a time.
MOVE= Moves files and renames files and directories.
MSAV= Scans your computer for known viruses.
MSBACKUP= Backs up or restores one or more files.
MSCDEX= Provides access to CD-ROM drives.
MSD= Starts the Microsoft Diagnostics program which provides detailed technical
NLSFUNC= Loads country-specific information.
NUMLOCK= Specifies from within your config.sys file whether the numlock key is set to on or off. PATH Searches alternative directories.
PAUSE= Pauses execution of the the batch file.
POWER= Reduces power used by your computer.
PRINT= Prints a text file while you are using other MS-DOS commands.
PROMPT= Changes the system prompt.
QBASIC= Starts the MS-DOS QBasic programming environment.
RD - RMDIR= Removes (deletes) a directory.
REM= Allows remarks to be added to a batch file.
REN - RENAME= Renames files.
REPLACE= Replaces files.
RESTORE= Restores files that were backed up by using the BACKUP command.
SET= Changes the system parameters.
SETVER= Sets the version number that MS-DOS reports to a program.
SHARE= Installs file-sharing and locking capabilities on your hard disk.
SHELL= Specifies from within the config.sys file the location of the command interpreter you want DOS to use.
SHIFT= Allows more than 10 replaceable parameters in a batch file.
SMARTDRV= Installs and configures the SMARTDrive disk-caching utility.
SORT= Sorts input and writes results to the screen, a file, or another device.
STACKS= Supports the dynamic use of data stacks to handle hardware interupts, from within your config.sys file.
SUBMENU= Defines from within the config.sys an item on a start-up menu that, when selected displays another set of options.
SUBST= Associates a path with a drive letter.
SWITCHES= Specifies from within the config.sys special DOS options.
SYS= Copies MS-DOS system files and command interpreter to a disk you specify.
TIME= Displays or sets the system time.
TREE= Displays the directory structure in graphical form.
TYPE= Displays a specified text file.
UNDELETE= Restores files previously deleted with the DEL command.
UNFORMAT= Restores a disk erased by the FORMAT command or restructured by the RECOVER command.
VER= Displays the version of MS-DOS.
VERIFY= Checks that files are correctly written to disk.
VOL= Displays the disk volume label.
VSAFE= Monitors your computer for viruses and displays a warning when it finds one
XCOPY= Copies files (except hidden and system files) and directory trees.
More DOS Commands Explained Here
Some Sample Commands
(Execute them at the C:\
prompt) and to stop any command, use "ctrl-break" to terminate the batch
program...
(A) dir *.* /s | more = This one will show you ALL of your
files on your hard-drive one page at a time:
(B) attrib *.* /s | more = This one is like the one above except it views the file attributes page by page:
(C) attrib *.exe /s +r = This is a good anit-virus command! It makes all of your "exe" files READ ONLY!
(D) attrib *.com /s +r = Ahhh, but a virus can also infect a "com" file. Change the above command a touch and "coms" are protected also!
(E) mem/debug | more = Have you ever wondered which programs are using memory? Use this " little guy" to find out!
(F) msd =
Have you wondered about the details of your "puter", like the hard-drive
parameters, memory usage, aux drive parameters, etc? Type this simple line to find out...
For DOS 5 or better;
Lost a file and cannot find it? No problem! Use this
command to search the entire hard drive for it:
(A) dir don't_know.exe /s = Assuming the
misplaced file name is "don't_know.exe" then this will find it because it
searches ALL subdirectories on the hard drive. Might take a few minutes to complete.
Some DOS Newsgroups
microsoft.public.win95.msdosapps
DOS Programming, Undocumented DOS, and DOS Secrets
