WINDOWS 95/98/ME
Information about Window MSDOS.SYS file.

The MSDOS.SYS file is a hidden, system, read-only file created on the root of the boot drive. There are several configurations that can be changed using this file. To edit the file first from C:\> type ATTRIB -h -s -r MSDOS.SYS

As always make a backup copy incase you mistakenly cause an issue when trying to edit this file. To edit this file type edit msdos.sys.

Most values in the MSDOS.SYS are either 0 or 1 which is off or on.

Entry

Description

 

- [Paths] section -

HostWinBootDrv=C

Location of the Boot Drive Root Directory

WinBootDir=

Location of necessary startup files

WinDir=

Location of the Windows95 Directory

 

- [Options] Section -

AutoScan=

Allows Windows 95 OSR2 and above to scandisk the hard disk drive if the computer was improperly shutdown. The default is 1. Setting the value to 0 causes the computer to not scandisk the hard disk drive. Setting the value to 1 prompts the user for scanning the hard disk drive (scan begins if no input for 60 seconds). Setting the value to 2 allows for automatic scanning (no prompt).

BootConfig=

Allow processing of the current boot setup. Setting the value to 0 performs and alternate boot setup. Setting the value to 1 performs the current boot setup.

BootMulti=

Allows booting to previous operation system. The default is 0. Setting this to 1 allows you to press F4 to start your previous version of DOS or F8 to use the startup Menu.

BootDelay=n

This sets the initial delay to n seconds before starting Windows. This is to give you enough time to press the F4 or F8 keys. The default is 2 seconds.

BootMenu=

Enables the automatic display of the Windows  startup menu. The default is 0 so that you need to press F8 on bootup to see the startup menu. Changing it to 1 will always bring up the Startup menu.

BootMenuDefault=#

This sets the number of seconds to show the Windows Startup menu before running the default menu item (see previous item.) The default is 30 seconds.

BootMenuDelay=#

This sets the number of seconds to show the Windows Startup menu before running the default menu item (see previous item). The default is 30 seconds.

BootSafe=

Force safe mode startup The default is 0. Setting to 0 will disable this feature, 1 will enable it.

BootKeys=

This enables the startup option keys (F5, F6, F8). The default is 1. Setting this to 0 prevents any startup keys from functioning.

BootGUI=

This enables the automatic graphical startup into Windows. The default is 1 setting this to 0 will boot you to a DOS prompt. You can then type "WIN" to start Windows95.

LoadTop=

Load COMMAND.COM or DRVSPACE.BIN at top of conventional memory. 

Logo=

Enables display of the Windows95 animated logo. The default is 1.

BootWarn=

Enables starting in Safe Mode without a warning. The default is 1.

DblSpace=

Load DBLSPACE.BIN module (if present). The default is 1.

DoubleBuffer=

Enables loading of a double-buffering driver for a SCSI controller, if required. The default setting is 0

DisableLog=

Create BOOTLOG.TXT upon bootup. The default is 1.

DrvSpace=

Load DRVSPACE.BIN module (if present). The default is 1.

Network=

Enables Safe Mode with Networking as a menu option. The default is 1 for computers with a network installed.

SystemReg=

Scan System Registry modules upon startup. Set value to 1 to enable, 0 to disable.

WinVer=

Display Windows version. Set value to 1 to enable display Windows version, 0 to disable

EXAMPLE OF MSDOS.SYS

[Paths]
WinDir=C:\WINDOWS
WinBootDir=C:\WINDOWS
HostWinBootDrv=C

[Options]
BootMulti=1
BootGUI=1
;
;The following lines are required for compatibility with other programs.
;Do not remove them (MSDOS.SYS needs to be >1024 bytes).
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxa
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxb
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxc
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxd
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxe
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxf
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxg
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxh
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxi
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxj
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxk
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxl
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxm
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxn
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxo
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxp
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxq
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxr
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxs
DoubleBuffer=1
AutoScan=1
WinVer=4.10.1998