Autoexec.bat and Config.sys Help and instructions

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Information about the autoexec.bat and the config.sys.

QUICK LINKS

About the Autoexec / Config
How to Edit the files
Remarking information
Getting additional memory
Autoexec.bat layout
Config.sys layout
Information about batch files
Technical Support

ABOUT THE AUTOEXEC / CONFIG

The autoexec.bat and the config.sys were files created for MS-DOS and Windows 3.x as an easy solution of loading the files required for various devices as well as the operating system to properly run. These files are required for later revisions of MS-DOS and Windows 3.x to load. However because Microsoft is trying to steer away from Windows these files are not required for Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT or Windows 2000.

HOW TO EDIT THE FILES

The auotexec.bat and the config.sys are most commonly edited by the MS-DOS command file Edit. To edit these files type edit c:\autoexec.bat to edit the autoexec.bat file or edit c:\config.sys to edit the config.sys file. If the mouse drivers are no loaded properly you will not have the capability of navigating the mouse. On our edit page we have listed

If you have Windows 95 or Windows 98 it is recommended that you use the sysedit command to run this program click Start / Run and type sysedit.

REMARKING INFORMATION

Remarking lines within the autoexec.bat or the config.sys allows you to temporarily or permanently prevent a line from loading each time you boot the computer. The method most commonly used is placing "REM " in front of the file you wish to skip.

If you are encountering issues with a line in the autoexec.bat it is highly recommended that you remark the line instead of removing it. This will prevent issues from arising if the line needs to be placed back into the appropriate file.

GETTING ADDITIONAL MEMORY

The following will help allow your computer to load programs into memory more efficiently allowing you to have more memory for MS-DOS programs / games.

Ensure you have the following lines at the beginning of your config.sys file.

DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DOS=HIGH,UMB
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS

By placing the DOS=HIGH,UMB on the second line this can in some cases save memory because it is loading DOS into upper memory before loading the memory manager. Additionally the first and third line cannot be loaded into high memory because these lines are the memory managers.

Load all your devices in your config.sys and autoexec.bat into high memory.

INDEX

Category:
Hardware
Software

Companies:
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Related Pages:
MS-DOS
Windows 3.x
Windows 95
Windows 98

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AUTOEXEC.BAT LAYOUT

The following is an example of what an autoexec may look like:

@echo off
SET SOUND=C:\PROGRA~1\CREATIVE\CTSND
SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H5 P330 E620 T6
SET PATH=C:\WINDOWS;C:\
LH C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\MSCDEX.EXE /D:123
LH C:\MOUSE\MOUSE.EXE
DOSKEY
CLS

COMMAND	EXPLANATION
@echo off	Tells DOS to just read the lines but don't echo them back to the screen.
SET SOUND=C:\PROGRA~1\CREATIVE\CTSND	This example is for the particular sound card that we have in one of the machines that we have. The set sound is telling the computer to send all sound events that the computer may run to that directory.
SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H5 P330 E620 T6	Tells the computer to set the sound blaster settings, this is a good line for game players, if you have this line in your autoexec.bat you will know all settings for your sound card. A220 = port address "220", I5 = IRQ 5, D1 = DMA 1 usually being the settings you will need for any game out on the market.
SET PATH=C:\WINDOWS;C:\	Sets the computer to look in the C:\windows directory or the root if a command used at the prompt is not found.
LH C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\MSCDEX.EXE /D:123	Line used for the CD-ROM, if you have Windows 95+ the MSCDEX will always be in the C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND Windows 3.x or DOS usually be either in C:\DOS or C:\WINDOWS directory. the /D:123 is the name of the driver name that loads in upper memory this can be anything usually /D:MSCD0001 however this is not an actual driver this is just the name for the driver. Ensure if you change this line that you change it in the config.sys on your CD-ROM line if the two are not the same your CD-ROM drive will not load.
LH C:\MOUSE\MOUSE.EXE	Load the mouse driver, however each mouse is different usually however the mouse driver will be either mouse.com or mouse.sys the sys file loading in the config.sys.
C:\DOS\SMARTDRV.EXE /X	Loads the smartdrive disk cache utility into memory. See our smartdrv command page for additional information about this utility.
DOSKEY	Simple dos command to load DOSKEY into memory so when in DOS you can use it without having to load it.
CLS	MS-DOS command to clear screen.
WIN	Used for users using Windows 3.x, this line will load windows automatically when booting the computer.

CONFIG.SYS LAYOUT

The following is an example of what the config.sys may look like:

DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DOS=HIGH,UMB
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS
FILES=30
STACKS=0,0
BUFFERS=20
DEVICEHIGH=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\ANSI.SYS
DEVICEHIGH=C:\MTMCDAI.SYS /D:123

COMMAND	EXPLANATION
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS	The Himem.sys line is a very important line this line will allow you to load drivers into high memory if this line is not present, Windows 3.x will not load up.
DOS=HIGH,UMB	This line will load DOS into high memory in a Upper memory Block. Note the location usually best placed after the HIMEM.SYS.
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS	The EMM386 line loads the Extended memory manager, however note that some MS-DOS games have problems with Extended memory and will not run without the NOEMS statement.
FILES=30	The files line allow windows to load 30 files at the same time usually however going higher may decrease the computer's performance 30 is found to work the best. Also ensure that this line is all as one line and that there is not a space between and after the =.
STACKS=0,0	The stacks line was first used in MS-DOS 3.2 and was used to swap the stack whenever an asynchronous hardware interrupt occurred. Later in MS-DOS 3.3 the line STACKS=0,0 was added into the config.sys. In special circum stances this line was changed to STACKS=9,128. The STACKS statement has a range of 8-64, 32-512. If a higher value is entered you will receive a FATAL : Internal Stack Failure, System Halted error message.
BUFFERS=20	Buffers line is to load buffers into memory allowing windows to load memory.
DEVICEHIGH=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\ANSI.SYS	The ansi.sys line is a driver for DOS to allow you to have different colors / size's and special characters at the DOS prompt.
DEVICEHIGH=C:\MTMCDAI.SYS /D:123	This line is the name of the CD-ROM driver on the particular system we are working on the /D:123 represents the name of the driver which in this case is named 123 however can be named anything usually MSCD0001. Note however that /D:123 must be exactly the same in config.sys and autoexec.bat, if they are different the CD-ROM will not work in DOS.
LASTDRIVE=	Allows you to specify the last drive installed on the computer. It is not recommended this line be used unless you are using Windows 3.11 or below. This line can cause issues with Windows 95 & 98 and will generally be remarked by Windows automatically.
FCBS=	Line used to specify the number of file-control blocks for file sharing. This line should only be used when programs require it and today is generally not used or required. FCBS can utilize between 1 and 255.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Reference	Issue / Question
FORUM	If your question is not listed on this page please try our online forum.
CH000007	Getting the mouse to work in MS-DOS
CH000210	As the computer boots I receive bad command or file name.
CH000360	How to get sound in MS-DOS.
CH000361	MS-DOS issues with Windows ME.
CH000382	Stack overflow system halted.
CH000425	Himem.sys missing or corrupt.

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