Q83386: Windows 3.1 SYSTEM.INI [boot] Section
Article: Q83386
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.1,3.11
Operating System(s):
Keyword(s):
Last Modified: 25-SEP-1999
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The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Windows versions 3.1, 3.11
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SUMMARY
=======
The information in this article was taken from the SYSINI.WRI file contained in
the Microsoft Windows Resource Kit for Windows version 3.1. The SYSINI.WRI file
may be viewed with Windows Write.
MORE INFORMATION
================
<BR/>
The [boot] section of the SYSTEM.INI file contains a list of drivers and
Windows modules that are used to configure Windows each time it boots. All
settings contained in this section are required, with the exception of the
CachedFileHandles entry.
If any of these settings are modified or deleted, Windows may not work
properly. There are no built-in default values for these settings; these
settings are assigned upon Setup based on the system configuration.
The [boot] section can contain the settings described in the following
paragraphs.
286grabber=<filename>
---------------------
Default: None
Purpose: Specifies the filename of the device driver
(called a grabber) that makes a non-Windows
application visible when you use Windows in
standard mode.
To change: Choose the Windows Setup icon from the Main
Group window. This setting changes when you
change the Display setting in Setup. If you are
installing a device driver that is not included
with Windows, run Setup from MS-DOS.
386grabber=<filename>
---------------------
Default: None
Purpose: Specifies the filename of the device driver
(called a grabber) that makes a non-Windows
application visible when you use Windows in 386
enhanced mode.
To change: Choose the Windows Setup icon from the Main
Group window. This setting changes when you
change the display setting in Setup. If you are
installing a device driver that is not included
with Windows, run Setup from MS-DOS.
CachedFileHandles=<number>
--------------------------
Default: 12
Purpose: Specifies the number of the most recently-used
executable (.exe) and dynamic link library (.dll)
files that can remain open. Windows keeps these
files open so that they can be accessed quickly,
ensuring optimal performance. However, some
networks have a limit on the number of files that
can be open on a server at a time. If you are
having problems running Windows from a Network
server, use a lower number for this setting. Valid
numbers are 2 through 12.
To change: Use Notepad to edit the SYSTEM.INI file.
comm.drv=<filename>
-------------------
Default: None
Purpose: Specifies the filename of the serial
communications driver you are using.
To change: Use Notepad to edit the SYSTEM.INI file.
display.drv=<filename>
----------------------
Default: None
Purpose: Specifies the filename of the display driver you
are using.
To change: Choose the Windows Setup icon from the Main
Group window. If you are installing a device
driver that is not included with Windows, run
Setup from MS-DOS.
drivers=<filename-or-aliasname>
-------------------------------
Default: None
Purpose: Specifies the filename(s) or alias name(s) of the
installable drivers that load when Windows is
started. An installable driver is a dynamic-link
library that is treated by Windows like a device
driver. If the drivers you want to use include
parameters, you must specify them by alias name.
Alias names are defined in the [Drivers] section
of the SYSTEM.INI file. You can list several file
or alias names in this setting
To change: Most setup programs add these settings to the
SYSTEM.INI file when installing installable
drivers, so you shouldn't need to change the
settings. Use Notepad to edit the SYSTEM.INI
file.
fixedfon.fon=<filename>
-----------------------
Default: None
Purpose: Specifies the filename of the fixed system font
used by Windows version 2.x. This font will still
be used by version 2.x applications.
To change: Choose the Windows Setup icon from the Main-
group window. This setting changes when you
change the display setting.
fonts.fon=<filename>
--------------------
Default: None
Purpose: Specifies the filename of the proportionately-
spaced system font used by Windows 3.1.
To change: Choose the Windows Setup icon from the Main-
group window. This setting changes when you
change the display setting in Setup.
keyboard.drv=<filename>
-----------------------
Default: None
Purpose: Specifies the filename of the keyboard driver you
are using.
To change: Choose the Windows Setup icon from the Main-
group window and change the setting for the
Keyboard option.
language.dll=<library-name>
---------------------------
Default: None
Purpose: Specifies the name of the dynamic-link library
that supplies language-specific functions. If no
language library is specified, Windows uses the
built-in U.S. English library.
To change: Choose the International icon from the Control
Panel window and change the setting for the
Language option.
mouse.drv=<filename>
--------------------
Default: None
Purpose: Specifies the filename of the mouse driver you are
using.
To change: Choose the Windows Setup icon from the Main-
group window and change the setting for the
Mouse option.
network.drv=<filename>
----------------------
Default: None
Purpose: Specifies the filename of the network driver you
are using.
To change: Choose the Windows Setup icon from the Main-
group window and change the setting for the
Network option.
oemfonts.fon=<filename>
-----------------------
Default: None
Purpose: Specifies the name of the font file for the OEM
character set. This setting is associated with the
display setting.
To change: Quit Windows and then run Setup from MS-DOS.
This setting changes when you change the
Codepage or Display setting in Setup.
shell=<filename>
----------------
Default: None (Setup initializes this value as PROGMAN.EXE)
Purpose: Specifies the Windows program that runs when you
start Windows. Unless you change this setting,
Program Manager will run when you start Windows.
To change: Use Notepad to edit the SYSTEM.INI file.
sound.drv=<filename>
--------------------
Default: None
Purpose: Specifies the filename of the system sound driver
you are using.
To change: Use Notepad to edit the SYSTEM.INI file.
system.drv=<filename>
---------------------
Default: None
Purpose: Specifies the filename of the system hardware
driver you are using.
To change: Quit Windows and run Setup from MS-DOS.
TaskMan.Exe=<filename>
----------------------
Default: taskman.exe
Purpose: Specifies the task-switching application that
appears when you press CTRL+ESC. If this setting
does not appear in the SYSTEM.INI file, then
Windows Task Manager is used as the task-switching
application.
To Change: Use Notepad to edit the SYSTEM.INI file.
KBCategory: kbref kbdisplay kbsound
KBSubcategory:
REFERENCES
==========
Microsoft Windows Resource Kit 3.1 SYSINI.WRI file
Additional query words: 3.10 win31 WRK RK
======================================================================
Keywords :
Technology : kbWin3xSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin310 kbWin311
Version : WINDOWS:3.1,3.11
=============================================================================
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