Q74887: How to Start a Windows-Based App Directly from MS-DOS

Article: Q74887
Product(s): Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.0,3.1
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kb16bitonly
Last Modified: 06-NOV-1999

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) versions 3.0, 3.1 
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SUMMARY
=======

It is possible to create a Windows-based application that can be started
directly from the MS-DOS prompt. For example, the KILLERAP application may be
written so that when "KILLERAP" (without the quotation marks) is typed at the
MS-DOS prompt, Windows is loaded and KILLERAP run.

However, some specific programming is required to perform this task. Otherwise,
enhanced mode Windows will produce a "Memory Segmented" error message. This
article discusses the techniques required.

MORE INFORMATION
================

The "Memory Segmented" error message is caused by the fact that the application
that spawns Windows remains in memory when Windows loads.

There is a straightforward way to work around this complication. Replace the
standard WINSTUB.EXE program, provided with the Windows Software Development
Kit, with a custom program tailored to the application.

The following sample WINSTUB program loads the string "win notepad" into the
keyboard key buffer. Then the program terminates and is removed from memory. The
keystrokes in the key buffer are played back by the hardware to MS-DOS. This
starts Windows and runs the program.

This sample code requires Microsoft C version 6.0 or later to compile because it
uses inline assembly code. A similar program may be written with the Microsoft
Macro Assembler (MASM) version 5.1 or later.

Sample Code
-----------

  void main(void)
  {
    char szExecLine[] = "win notepad\r";
    int  iIndex;
    char cChar;

    for (iIndex = 0; iIndex < sizeof(szExecLine); iIndex++)
      {
      cChar = szExecLine[iIndex];
      _asm
         {
         mov        ah, 05h
         mov        ch, 0
         mov        cl, cChar
         int        16h
         }
      }
  }

Additional query words: 3.00 3.10 no32bit

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Keywords          : kb16bitonly 
Technology        : kbAudDeveloper kbWin3xSearch kbSDKSearch kbWinSDKSearch kbWinSDK300 kbWinSDK310
Version           : WINDOWS:3.0,3.1

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