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Q74995: Using Batch Files to Start with Different Configurations

Article: Q74995
Product(s): Microsoft Disk Operating System
Version(s): MS-DOS:3.x,4.x,5.x
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 17-DEC-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 3.1, 3.2, 3.21, 3.3, 3.3a, 4.0, 4.01, 5.0, 5.0a 
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SUMMARY
=======

Some programs that access extended memory through their own methods may not run
if HIMEM.SYS is installed the CONFIG.SYS file. These programs generally have the
number 386 in the title (for example, AutoCAD 386). To run these programs, you
will need to restart your computer with a different CONFIG.SYS file each time
you want to run a different conflicting application/environment. You can do this
process manually each time, or you can use batch files and a small executable
program to restart your machine.

NOTE: If you are using MS-DOS 6.0 or later, you can use multiple configuration
menus or the CHOICE.COM program to configure your system. For more information
on using these options under MS-DOS 6.0 or later, type "HELP MULTI-CONFIG"
(without the quotation marks) or "HELP CHOICE" (without the quotation marks) at
the MS-DOS command prompt and then press ENTER.

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

To create the files to automatically restart your computer with the appropriate
configuration, do the following:

Create a directory on your hard drive called C:\CONFIGS. Create the CONFIG.SYS
and AUTOEXEC.BAT files you need to boot your system for HIMEM.SYS and
applications that require it, with the following names:

  c:\configs\config.dos
  c:\configs\autoexec.dos

Create the CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files you need to start your system for
the program that conflicts with HIMEM.SYS. Any unique file extension can be
used. The following example uses 386:

  c:\configs\config.386
  c:\configs\autoexec.386

The following DEBUG script can be used to create a small executable file called
REBOOT.COM. This file, when executed, will cause your system to restart. To
create the file, change to the DOS directory, and type the following:

  " debug reboot.com" (without the quotation marks)

Enter the following information, pressing ENTER key after each line:

A 100                     ; Debug instruction for assemble
MOV AH,0D                 ; Disk Reset

INT 21h                   ; causes SmartDrv 4.x to write cache

MOV AX, 40                ; set up segment addressing
MOV DS,AX
DS:
OR  BYTE PTR    [17],0C   ; equivalent of pressing CTRL+ALT
MOV AX,4F53               ; Issue a "DEL" (53h = DEL scan code)

INT 15h                   ; EMM386 sees this & shuts down.

DS:
MOV WORD PTR [72],1234    ; Set REBOOT flag to Warm-Boot (0=cold)
JMP F000:FFF0             ; Execute the internal restart routine
<CR>                      ; This line must be blank (just hit ENTER)
R CX
20                        ; File size to be written to disk (in hex)
N REBOOT.COM              ; Filename
W                         ; Write the file to disk
Q                         ; Quit Debug

NOTE: The REBOOT.COM file created with this debug script is compatible with
SMARTDrive and its write-behind cache feature. The instructions in REBOOT.COM
cause SMARTDrive to write (flush) its write-behind cache to disk before the
computer is rebooted.

The following commands can be used to copy and rename the configuration files to
the root directory of the C drive and restart the computer. To simplify the
process, you can put these commands into batch files.

To start your machine for Windows, use the following commands:

  copy c:\configs\autoexec.dos c:\autoexec.bat
  copy c:\configs\config.dos c:\config.sys
  reboot.com

To start your machine for the 386 application, use the following commands:

  copy c:\configs\autoexec.386 c:\autoexec.bat
  copy c:\configs\config.386 c:\config.sys
  reboot.com

Additional query words: 3.20 3.21 3.30 3.30a 4.0 4.01 4.01a 5.00 5.00a VCPI DPMI

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS321 kbMSDOS400 kbMSDOS320 kbMSDOS330a kbMSDOS310 kbMSDOS500 kbMSDOS330 kbMSDOS401 kbMSDOS500a
Version           : MS-DOS:3.x,4.x,5.x

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