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Q151717: Cannot Exit MS-DOS Mode

Article: Q151717
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): 
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): win95
Last Modified: 23-JUL-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows 95 
- Microsoft Windows 98 
- Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When you try to exit MS-DOS mode, the computer may boot back into MS-DOS mode.

CAUSE
=====

This behavior can occur if multiple instances of MS-DOS mode were started and
the original Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files have been replaced.

RESOLUTION
==========

To work around this problem, follow these steps:

1. Use any text editor (such as Edit.com) to create a new Config.sys file in the
  root folder of your boot drive. The Config.sys file must not contain the
  following line:

  DOS=Single

2. Create a new Autoexec.bat file in the root folder of your boot drive. The
  Autoexec.bat file must not contain the following line:

  c:\<windows>\win.com /wx

  Where <windows> is the name of your Windows folder.

3. Restart the computer.

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

When you restart the computer in MS-DOS mode, you can specify custom Config.sys
and Autoexec.bat files in any of the following locations:

- The properties for the program you are running in MS-DOS mode.

- The properties for a shortcut that starts the program you are running in
  MS-DOS mode.

- The properties for the "Exit to Dos.pif" file that is used to start Windows
  95 in MS-DOS mode.

When you double-click the program or shortcut, or click the "Restart the computer
in MS-DOS mode" option in the Shut Down Windows dialog box, the Config.sys and
Autoexec.bat files in the root folder of the boot drive are renamed to
Config.wos and Autoexec.wos, and the custom Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files
are copied from one of the above locations to the root folder. When you exit
MS-DOS mode, the current Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files are renamed to
Config.app and Autoexec.app, the original Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files are
restored from the Config.wos and Autoexec.wos files, and the Config.wos and
Autoexec.wos files are deleted.

If a second instance of MS-DOS mode is started before you exit the first
instance, the original Config.sys file contained in the Config.wos file may be
replaced with a Config.sys file that contains the following line:

  DOS=Single

When you then attempt to exit MS-DOS mode and start Windows 95 normally, the
original Config.sys file is restored from the Config.wos file. Because this
Config.sys file contains the above line, the computer boots into MS-DOS mode.

For additional information about the process that occurs when you restart your
computer in MS-DOS mode, please see the following article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:

  Q138996 Description of Restarting Computer in MS-DOS Mode

For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in
the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q130448 Cannot Quit MS-DOS Mode

Additional query words:

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Keywords          : win95 
Technology        : kbWin95search kbWin98search kbWin98SEsearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin98 kbWin98SE
Version           : :

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