I'm setting up DOS again for use with some old games on my Windows 98 SE system. My CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files are empty. I realize that settings for these two files are somewhat proprietary, but what should they include as a minimum? What template should I use to re-create them?

sample config.sys

device=c:\dos\himem.sys
device=c:\dos\emm386.exe ram noems
dos=high
device=c:\dos\setver.exe

sample autoexec.bat

@echo off
c:\dos\smartdrv.exe
set prompt$p$g
set dircmd=/o
set path=c:\dos;
c:\dos\mouse.com
c:\dos\doskey.com /insert

of couse as it is a sample, you will have to change all the paths to be correct for your system.

Ok, well Chaz, your question is more Win9x related than DOS - it makes a difference. As Tony implies, your paths Will be different, probably:

C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND

for one thing.
Tony, aren't the ram and noems parameters for emm386 contradictary? (just use noems) At any rate, you need to specify UMBs:
DOS=HIGH,UMB
if you're going to bother using emm386.
Also, the set dircmd=/o is pretty much meaningless - should be something like:
set dircmd=/o:E
to specify the sort order on a dir command.
(I'm not even going to mention setver or doskey)
In 6.22, a minimum path and prompt are set by default - no need to specify them as such again. Win98 running in DOS mode does things a bit differently tho', I'm sure.

thats what my config.sys has on my 486, memmaker put it there,
ram switch to access UMB.
noems switch, to not simulate ems memory.

and the /o is not meaninng less, it will set the order alphabetically, thats the default setting, when no other switch is placed (ie /oe).
so its not meaningless
and what is wrong with setver and doskey?

using /o is exactly the same as using /oe

Oops! I stand corrected on the dircmd setting *sg*
From DOS6 Help emm386.exe:
RAM=mmmm-nnnn
Specifies a range of segment addresses to be used for UMBs and also
*enables EMS* support. If you do not specify a range, EMM386 uses all
available adapter space to create UMBs and a page frame for EMS.

NOEMS
Provides access to the upper memory area but *prevents* access to expanded
memory.

The DOS= command:

DOS=[HIGH,|LOW,]UMB|NOUMB

Parameters

UMB|NOUMB
Specifies whether MS-DOS should manage upper memory blocks (UMBs)
created by a UMB provider such as EMM386.EXE. The UMB parameter
specifies that MS-DOS should manage UMBs, if they exist. The NOUMB
parameter specifies that MS-DOS should not manage UMBs. The default
setting is NOUMB.

HIGH|LOW
Specifies whether MS-DOS should attempt to load a part of itself into
the HMA (HIGH) or keep all of MS-DOS in conventional memory (LOW). The
default setting is LOW.

Chaz was looking for a *minimum* configuration - doskey is an extra, and setver is of questionable worth - it's only for running commands from previous versions of MS-DOS and has to be configured for them. Memmaker is overrated (imo). Why not load the mouse driver high (lh)? Oh yeah, there's a typo in your 'prompt' setting too.

All this is moot tho' - setting up DOS as an OS is not the same as configuring DOS Mode in Win98.

well, do it the way you want, but if you just use noems, it won't let you access the high memory, you won't be able to load things high, with a ram switch you can.
you can still load dos high, but the lh command doesn't load high, unless they are there.
what i gave him was a minimum configuration, do you want me to give my whole conifguration?
this is what i consider bear essentials, i have found without doskey, the command propmpt can be pretty lame, allot of re-typing things, and such, i have been using doskey for years, and also ibm pc dos 7 (which i use) considers it minimum, a clean install puts it into the autoexec.bat by default.

also the set path is not always set by default, if you are booting off a boot disk, its not set, it has to be set manually.
also if you have a non default path for dos, it MUST be set, io.sys looks for 2 direcotries, c:\dos, or c:\msdos, which ever one it finds, it sets it as the path, if you have it in any other folder, it MUST be set.

but the thing is, its just a sample, and can be configured any way chaz sees fit, my sample is not to be taken to seriosly, its just my opinion of a minumum configuration.
whats next you are going to tell me that smartdrive shouldn't be there, becuase it takes up to much extended ram.?

Tony - we can agree to disagree if you like, this discussion probably isn't a lot of help to Chaz, who after all, posted on the wrong page - he would get better information at the Win9x page.
Nevertheless, it pains me to see that you have so many misconceptions about DOS, and, are willing to pass them on as Gospel. I've been using DOS since 3.2 - believe me, 6.22 is positively user friendly by comparison. (btw smartdrive is fine if configured to your system).
All my parameters are based on MS-DOS 6.22, not PC DOS or Windows DOS-Mode. I have quoted text from the 'official' help program to show you the parameters MS-DOS 6.22 needs to run effectively. Go back and read them, or fire up your own help program and READ it. What do you think UMB means? Loading DOS high just loads the DOS command.com into 'high memory' - a special 64k block of memory available to 286+ machines (DOS=HIGH). It has almost nothing to do with the upper memory blocks, which are mapped from the 384 odd k between the end of conventional memory (640k) and the first Mb of memory. Here (why not?) is a "minimal configuration"

autoexec.bat:
@echo off
lh c:\mymouse\mymouse.com

config.sys:
device=c:\dos\himem.sys
device=c:\dos\emm386.exe noems
dos=high,umb

Smartdrive, a more complete path statement, ansi.sys and whatever else can be added, but this is a Minimal setup.

Oh, yeah, Doskey is lame, I use a graphical version that I can scroll through to retrieve commands (stack)

Tony, I'm sure you originally meant well here, but passing on information that you clearly don't understand - is that help?

jboy sez:

enuff already

Here's a sample from my game computer - first backup your current msdos.sys file, then change it so that it reads Bootgui=0 and Logo=0. Then alter this sample so that it points to the correct drivers and locations for your computer. When your computer turns on you will be presented with a menu that will start Windows by default if you do nothing, or you may run DOS with whichever type of memory your game needs, or you can alter the games part to list the DOS games on your computer and it will start whatever game you want to play.

REM CONFIG.SYS FILE
[menu]
menucolor 7,1
menuitem Windows,Windows 98
submenu Custom,MS DOS
submenu Games,Games
menudefault Windows,10

[SOUND]
REM DEVICE=C:\essolo.sys

[CDROM]
DEVICEHIGH=C:\MTM\MTMCDAI.SYS /D:MTMIDE01

[OPTIONAL]

[Windows]
LASTDRIVE=P
REM END Windows

[Custom]
menucolor 15,5
submenu EMMyes, Use expanded memory -- EMS
submenu EMMno, No expanded memory -- NOEMS
submenu EMMout, Use extended memory -- XMS
submenu HIMEMno, No memory managers at all
submenu MaxConv, Maximum Conventional Memory
submenu menu, GO BACK TO MAIN MENU

[EMMyes]
menuitem CDROMyes,CD-ROM game
menuitem HARDDRVyes,Hard drive game
submenu Custom, GO BACK TO MS DOS MENU

[EMMno]
menuitem CDROMno,CD-ROM game
menuitem HARDDRVno,Hard drive game
submenu Custom, GO BACK TO MS DOS MENU

[EMMout]
menuitem CDROMout,CD-ROM game
menuitem HARDDRVout,Hard drive game
submenu Custom, GO BACK TO MS DOS MENU

[HIMEMno]
menuitem HIMEMCDno,CD-ROM game
menuitem HIMEMHRDno,Hard drive game
submenu Custom, GO BACK TO MS DOS MENU

[MaxConv]
menuitem MaxConvCD,CD-ROM game
menuitem MaxConvHD,Hard drive game
submenu Custom, GO BACK TO MS DOS MENU

[CDROMyes]
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE 15360 RAM
BUFFERS=30,0
FILES=25
DOS=UMB
DOS=HIGH
STACKS=9,256
INCLUDE=SOUND
INCLUDE=OPTIONAL
INCLUDE=CDROM
REM END CDROMyes

[HARDDRVyes]
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE 15360 RAM
BUFFERS=30,0
FILES=25
DOS=UMB
STACKS=9,256
DOS=HIGH
INCLUDE=SOUND
INCLUDE=OPTIONAL
REM END HARDDRVyes

[CDROMno]
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS
BUFFERS=30,0
FILES=25
DOS=UMB
DOS=HIGH
STACKS=9,256
INCLUDE=SOUND
INCLUDE=OPTIONAL
INCLUDE=CDROM
REM END CDROMno

[HARDDRVno]
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS
BUFFERS=30,0
FILES=25
DOS=UMB
STACKS=9,256
DOS=HIGH
INCLUDE=SOUND
INCLUDE=OPTIONAL
REM END HARDDRVno

[CDROMout]
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
BUFFERS=30,0
FILES=25
DOS=UMB
DOS=HIGH
STACKS=9,256
INCLUDE=SOUND
INCLUDE=OPTIONAL
INCLUDE=CDROM
REM END CDROMout

[HARDDRVout]
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
BUFFERS=30,0
FILES=25
DOS=UMB
STACKS=9,256
DOS=HIGH
INCLUDE=SOUND
INCLUDE=OPTIONAL
REM END HARDDRVout

[HIMEMCDno]
BUFFERS=30,0
FILES=25
INCLUDE=SOUND
INCLUDE=OPTIONAL
INCLUDE=CDROM
REM END HIMEMCDno

[HIMEMHRDno]
BUFFERS=30,0
FILES=25
INCLUDE=SOUND
INCLUDE=OPTIONAL
REM END HIMEMHRDno

[MaxConvCD]
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE 15360 RAM
BUFFERS=20,0
FILES=20
DOS=UMB
DOS=HIGH
STACKS=9,256
INCLUDE=SOUND
INCLUDE=OPTIONAL
INCLUDE=CDROM
REM END MaxConvCD

[MaxConvHD]
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE 15360 RAM
BUFFERS=20,0
FILES=20
DOS=UMB
STACKS=9,256
DOS=HIGH
INCLUDE=SOUND
INCLUDE=OPTIONAL
REM END MaxConvHD

[Games]
submenu trekkies, STARTREK GAMES
submenu favs, MY FAVORITES
submenu others, Other Games
submenu menu,GO BACK TO MAIN MENU
menucolor 15,5

[favs]
menuitem Framed, Framed!!
menuitem Electro,Electroman
menuitem Hocus, Hocus Pocus
menuitem VBDOS, VBdos

submenu Games,GO BACK TO GAMES MENU

[others]
menuitem Caves1, Crystal Caves 1
menuitem Crime_City,Crime City
menuitem riptide,Riptide
menuitem pizza,Pizza
menuitem Robbo, Robbo
submenu Games,GO BACK TO GAMES MENU

[trekkies]
Menuitem Unity, A Final Unity (CD required)
menuitem Star_Trek_judgment_rites,Star Trek - Judgment Rites
menuitem Trek25,Star Trek 25th - (CD required)
submenu Games,GO BACK TO GAMES MENU

[Caves1]
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE 15360 RAM
BUFFERS=20
FILES=20
DOS=UMB
STACKS=9,256
DOS=HIGH
INCLUDE=SOUND
INCLUDE=OPTIONAL
REM END caves1

[Robbo]
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE 15360 RAM
BUFFERS=20
FILES=20
DOS=UMB
STACKS=9,256
DOS=HIGH
INCLUDE=SOUND
INCLUDE=OPTIONAL
REM END Robbo

[Crime_City]
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE 15360 RAM
BUFFERS=20
FILES=20
DOS=UMB
STACKS=9,256
DOS=HIGH
INCLUDE=SOUND
INCLUDE=OPTIONAL
REM END Crime City

[riptide]
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE 15360 RAM
BUFFERS=20
FILES=20
DOS=UMB
STACKS=9,256
DOS=HIGH
INCLUDE=SOUND
INCLUDE=OPTIONAL
REM END Riptide

[pizza]
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE 15360 RAM
BUFFERS=20
FILES=20
DOS=UMB
STACKS=9,256
DOS=HIGH
INCLUDE=SOUND
INCLUDE=OPTIONAL
REM END Pizza

[Electro]
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE 15360 RAM
BUFFERS=30,0
FILES=25
DOS=UMB
STACKS=9,256
DOS=HIGH
INCLUDE=SOUND
INCLUDE=OPTIONAL
REM END Electro

[Hocus]
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE 15360 RAM
BUFFERS=30,0
FILES=25
DOS=UMB
STACKS=9,256
DOS=HIGH
INCLUDE=SOUND
INCLUDE=OPTIONAL
REM END Hocus

[Trek25]
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE 15360 RAM
BUFFERS=30,0
FILES=25
DOS=UMB
DOS=HIGH
STACKS=9,256
INCLUDE=SOUND
INCLUDE=OPTIONAL
INCLUDE=CDROM
REM END Trek25

[Star_Trek_judgment_rites]
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE 4096 RAM
DOS=UMB
DOS=HIGH
FILES=25
BUFFERS=25
STACKS=9,256
INCLUDE=SOUND
INCLUDE=OPTIONAL
REM END Star_Trek_judgment_rites

[Unity]
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE 15360 RAM
BUFFERS=30,0
FILES=25
DOS=UMB
DOS=HIGH
STACKS=9,256
INCLUDE=SOUND
INCLUDE=OPTIONAL
INCLUDE=CDROM
REM END Unity

[Framed]
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE 15360 RAM
BUFFERS=20
FILES=20
DOS=UMB
STACKS=9,256
DOS=HIGH
INCLUDE=SOUND
INCLUDE=OPTIONAL
REM END Framed

[VBdos]
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE 15360 RAM
BUFFERS=20
FILES=20
DOS=UMB
STACKS=9,256
DOS=HIGH
INCLUDE=SOUND
INCLUDE=OPTIONAL
REM END VBdos
REM END OF FILE

@ECHO OFF
REM AUTOEXEC.BAT FILE FOR WINDOWS 98
IF %config%==Windows goto %config%
goto %config%

:Windows
@ECHO OFF
PATH=C:\;C:\WINDOWS
C:\WINDOWS\win
goto end
REM END Windows

:CDROMyes
@echo off
PATH=C:\
C:\Mouse\Mouse.com
LH C:\ATAPI\MSCDEX /D:MTMIDE01 /M:10
C:\essolo.com
Set Blaster=A220 I7 D3 T4
PROMPT CD-ROM_EMS $P$G
goto end
REM END CDROMyes

:HARDDRVyes
@echo off
PATH=C:\
C:\Mouse\Mouse.com
C:\essolo.com
Set Blaster=A220 I7 D3 T4
PROMPT HARD_DRIVE_EMS $P$G
goto end
REM END HARDDRVyes

:CDROMno
@echo off
PATH=C:\
C:\Mouse\Mouse.com
LH C:\ATAPI\MSCDEX /D:MTMIDE01 /M:10
C:\essolo.com
Set Blaster=A220 I7 D3 T4
PROMPT CD-ROM_NOEMS $P$G
goto end
REM END CDROMno

:HARDDRVno
@echo off
C:\ATAPI\MSCDEX /D:MTMIDE01 /M:10
PATH=C:\
C:\Mouse\Mouse.com
C:\essolo.com
Set Blaster=A220 I7 D3 T4
PROMPT HARD_DRIVE_NOEMS $P$G
goto end
REM END HARDDRVno

:CDROMout
@echo off
PATH=C:\
C:\Mouse\Mouse.com
C:\ATAPI\MSCDEX /D:MTMIDE01 /M:10
C:\essolo.com
Set Blaster=A220 I7 D3 T4
PROMPT CD-ROM_NOEMM $P$G
goto end
REM END CDROMout

:HARDDRVout
@echo off
PATH=C:\
C:\Mouse\Mouse.com
C:\essolo.com
Set Blaster=A220 I7 D3 T4
PROMPT HARD_DRIVE_NOEMM $P$G
goto end
REM END HARDDRVout

:HIMEMCDno
@echo off
PATH=C:\
C:\Mouse\Mouse.com
C:\ATAPI\MSCDEX /D:MTMIDE01 /M:10
C:\essolo.com
Set Blaster=A220 I7 D3 T4
PROMPT CD-ROM_NOXMS $P$G
goto end
REM END HIMEMCDno

:HIMEMHRDno
@echo off
PATH=C:\
C:\Mouse\Mouse.com
C:\essolo.com
Set Blaster=A220 I7 D3 T4
PROMPT HARD_DRIVE_NOXMS $P$G
goto end
REM END HIMEMHRDno

:MaxConvCD
@echo off
PATH=C:\
C:\Mouse\Mouse.com
LH C:\ATAPI\MSCDEX /D:MTMIDE01 /M:10
C:\essolo.com
Set Blaster=A220 I7 D3 T4
PROMPT MaxConvCD $P$G
goto end
REM END MaxConvCD

:MaxConvHD
@echo off
PATH=C:\
C:\Mouse\Mouse.com
C:\essolo.com
Set Blaster=A220 I7 D3 T4
PROMPT MaxConvHD $P$G
goto end
REM END MaxConvHD

:Caves1
@echo off
PATH=C:\
C:\Mouse\Mouse.com
C:\essolo.com
Set Blaster=A220 I7 D3 T4
D:
CD Caves
cc1.exe
goto end
REM END Caves1

:Robbo
@echo off
PATH=C:\
C:\Mouse\Mouse.com
C:\essolo.com
Set Blaster=A220 I7 D3 T4
D:
CD Robbo
Robbo
goto end
REM END Robbo

:Crime_City
@echo off
PATH=C:\
C:\Mouse\Mouse.com
C:\essolo.com
Set Blaster=A220 I7 D3 T4
D:
CD Crime
city
goto end
REM END Crime City

:Riptide
@echo off
PATH=C:\
C:\Mouse\Mouse.com
C:\essolo.com
Set Blaster=A220 I7 D3 T4
D:
CD Riptide
riptide.exe
goto end
REM END Riptide

:Pizza
@echo off
PATH=C:\
C:\Mouse\Mouse.com
C:\essolo.com
Set Blaster=A220 I7 D3 T4
D:
CD Pizza
pizza.exe
goto end
REM END Pizza

:Electro
@echo off
PATH=C:\
C:\Mouse\Mouse.com
C:\essolo.com
Set Blaster=A220 I7 D3 T4
D:
CD Electro
electro.bat
cd reset
reset
rem goto end
REM END Electro

:Hocus
@echo off
PATH=C:\
C:\Mouse\Mouse.com
C:\essolo.com
Set Blaster=A220 I7 D3 T4
D:
CD Hocus
Hocus
goto end
REM END Hocus

:Trek25
@echo off
PATH=C:\
C:\Mouse\Mouse.com
LH C:\ATAPI\MSCDEX /D:MTMIDE01 /M:10
C:\essolo.com
Set Blaster=A220 I7 D3 T4
D:
CD Trek25
startrek.exe
goto end
REM END Trek25

:Star_Trek_judgment_rites
@ECHO OFF
PATH=C:\
C:\Mouse\Mouse.com
C:\essolo.com
Set Blaster=A220 I7 D3 T4
D:
cd Rites
rites
goto end
REM END Star_Trek_judgment_rites

:Unity
@echo off
PATH=C:\
C:\Mouse\Mouse.com
LH C:\ATAPI\MSCDEX /D:MTMIDE01 /M:10
C:\essolo.com
Set Blaster=A220 I7 D3 T4
D:
cd sttng
sttng.exe
goto end
REM END Unity

:Framed
@echo off
PATH=C:\
C:\Mouse\Mouse.com
C:\essolo.com
Set Blaster=A220 I7 D3 T4
D:
cd Framed
framed.exe
goto end
REM END Framed

:VBdos
@echo off
Path=C:\
C:\Mouse\Mouse.com
G:
cd VBdos
vbdos.exe
goto end
REM END vbdos

:end
REM END OF FILE

Whew, Danny, I hope you keep backups for that - hate to have to recreate it from scratch. *g* (not exactly minimal is it? *g*)
Seriously, tho', probably the best feature (imo) of DOS 6.x + was the ability to use multiple configurations. Just at a glance, you could trim the size of those startup files down by:
having only one '@echo off' statement as the first line of your autoexec.bat, as well as other redundant lines (set blaster=), - it just makes it simpler to read and modify. Same idea for config.sys - you can have a [common] submenu for items present in all configurations, you can combine the DOS=HIGH,UMB line etc - just makes debugging the files simpler, is all. Can't you load your mouse high, or are you out of UMBs?

"Live long and prosper'

Thanks for the info jboy - never thought about loading mouse high. My cousin set that up for me on the first computer I ever had (came with Win95 on it), so I don't know alot about DOS - which is why I like to read this messageboard.

Thanks again

Check out the DOS 6 Help program under 'multi-config' for more info about setups. It runs from a version of the Qbasic program bundled with DOS 6.xx, lots of tips.

I'll say it again, jboy, you're good.

(i used to dream in dos)

*bg*

you are far too kind Dan ;-)

hi, got a prob with XMS by using DOS-Progs under Win2000. Can you help me?
I need more than 1500 kB but that damn *.pif does not support changing the XMS variable on *.bat, only with *.exe. In this case it is not possible to change other parameters that I need!

help, plz! :)

l8r
daem