Q84864: Using MS-DOS 4.x Shell Under MS-DOS 5.0 and later
Article: Q84864
Product(s): Microsoft Disk Operating System
Version(s): MS-DOS:4.x,5.x,6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22
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 4.0, 4.01, 5.0, 5.0a, 6.0, 6.2, 6.21, 6.22
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SUMMARY
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It is often possible to use MS-DOS version 4.0, 4.01, or 4.01a Shell under
MS-DOS 5.0 and later. Although this configuration has no known problems, it has
not been fully tested. MS-DOS 5.0 and later were not designed to support the
MS-DOS 4.x Shell. For more information, see the "Potential Problems section
below.
This configuration can be useful in the following instances:
- You want to refer to your 4.x Shell program items and groups while
configuring MS-DOS 5.0 or 6.0 Shell.
- You want to use a feature that only exists in the 4.x Shell.
- You prefer the 4.x Shell user interface.
- You are a support professional and your customers have MS-DOS 4.0, 4.01, or
4.01a and require assistance with the 4.x Shell. You are running MS-DOS 5.0
or later, but need to have the 4.x Shell available for reference.
MORE INFORMATION
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To reinstall the MS-DOS 4.x Shell on your hard disk after installing MS-DOS 5.0
or later, do the following:
1. Create a directory to contain the MS-DOS Shell files (for example, C:\SHELL).
2. Copy the following files from the MS-DOS 4.x MS-DOS Shell disk to the
directory you created in step 1.
DOSUTIL.MEU
SHELL.CLR
SHELL.HLP
SHELL.MEU
SHELLB.COM
SHELLC.EXE
PCIBMDRV.MOS
For example, if the MS-DOS Shell disk is in drive A, you could use the
following commands:
copy a:\dosutil.meu c:\shell
copy a:\shell*.* c:\shell
copy a:\pcibmdrv.mos c:\shell
NOTE: Do not copy all the files from the MS-DOS Shell disk.
3. Copy any other .MEU files found in the former MS-DOS 4.x directory to the
directory containing Shell. For example, type "copy c:\dos\*.meu c:\shell"
(without the quotation marks) at the MS-DOS command prompt and then press
ENTER.
These .MEU files describe individual groups within the MS-DOS 4.x Shell that
you have created.
4. Using MS-DOS Editor or another text editor, create the following batch file
and name it SHELL.BAT. Use this batch file to run 4.x Shell. This batch file
is based on the one included in Appendix A of the Microsoft MS-DOS Shell
"User's Guide" for version 4.x.
@ECHO OFF
C:
CD C:\SHELL
SHELLB DOSSHELL
IF ERRORLEVEL 255 GOTO END
:COMMON
SHELLC /TRAN/COLOR/DOS/MENU/MUL/SND/MEU:SHELL.MEU/CLR:SHELL.CLR
/PROMPT/MAINT/EXIT/SWAP/DATE
:END
BREAK=ON
NOTES
-----
The line beginning with "SHELLC" ends after "/DATE". When you type this line,
do not press the ENTER key until after "/DATE."
This example works if the MS-DOS Shell files have been placed in a C:\SHELL
directory on drive C. If you have placed the files in another directory, you
must change lines 2 and 3 accordingly. SHELLC.EXE will only find SHELL.CLR
and .MEU files that are located in the directory SHELLC.EXE was executed
from.
If you use a name other than DOSSHELL.BAT for this batch file, use that name
on the "SHELLB" line in place of DOSSHELL. For example, if you name this
batch file SHELL401.BAT, the line should read "SHELLB SHELL401."
For more information, query on the following words in the Microsoft Knowledge
Base:
" dosshell.bat and 4.00 " (without the quotation marks)
Potential Problems
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When you upgrade a system from MS-DOS 4.01 to MS-DOS 6.2, Setup moves the
SHELLB.COM and SHELLC.EXE files to the UNINSTALL subdirectory. To correct this
problem, copy these two files from the C:\OLD_DOS.1 directory to the DOS
directory. If you have already deleted OLD_DOS.1, expand SHELLB.CO_ and
SHELLC.EXE from the original MS-DOS 4.01 disks.
If you receive the error message "Color file missing or unreadable" when you try
to run Shell 4.x under MS-DOS 6.2, ensure that all necessary files are in the
directory that contains your MS-DOS files (typically C:\DOS). If you still
receive the error message:
1. Make a backup copy of the DOSSHELL.BAT file. For example, type "copy
c:\dos\dosshell.bat c:\dos\dosshell.pss" (without the quotation marks) at the
MS-DOS command prompt and then press ENTER.
2. Use MS-DOS Editor to edit the DOSSHELL.INI file and remove any lines between
"SHELLC" and "/TRAN..." (usually "/MOS:PCIBMDRV.MOS").
3. Save the DOSSHELL.INI file and exit MS-DOS Editor.
You should now be able to run Shell 4.x under MS-DOS 6.2.
REFERENCES
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Microsoft MS-DOS "User's Guide," version 4.x, Appendix A
Additional query words: 6.22 4.00 4.01 4.01a 5.00 5.00a dosshell 6.00 6.20 dosutil.meu shell.clr shell.hlp shell.meu shellb.com shellc.exe dosshell.bat
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Keywords :
Technology : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS400 kbMSDOS621 kbMSDOS622 kbMSDOS620 kbMSDOS600 kbMSDOS500 kbMSDOS401 kbMSDOS500a
Version : MS-DOS:4.x,5.x,6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22
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