autoexec.bat/Win98SE

[Charles]

In my old 486 Win3.1 loads from entering C:\WINDOWS\WIN in autoexec.bat. How does it do it in Win98SE?

Also what's the difference between running Dos from MS-DOS within Windows, and running Dos by pressing F8 and selecting command prompt only?

Thanks, Charles.

[Jenni]

I don't know the answer to the first question, but I know the answer to the second one. From a DOS window within Windows, you may had device drivers and the like loaded and using up memory that DOS programs need. Command prompt only does not load anything up.

[DrZaius]

Hi Charles,

Regarding your first question,

I'm not 100% sure, but I believe that Win98 writes to your MBR (Master Boot Record) and forces Windows to always start. Hope that helps.

[Charles]

If command prompt only(not within windows)is not good to load drivers and the like then what is it good for?

Thanks, Charles.

[Hpro]

The answer to your first Question is like this:

Windows will be loaded by the Entry from MS-DOS.SYS which gives it the path and then as soon Registry Takes over Config.SYS - AUTOEXEC.BAT (which is hidden in the REGISTRY )will be executed for some of it's drivers - to actually make this visible you can place MSCDEX in a BATCH file and then when in Windows you can click on the BATCH file and you will see MSCDEX already loaded - or something like that..This with having a EMPTY AUTOEXEC.BAT

The second Question :

When Running Ms-Dos prompt then you are ACTUALLY Running ALL the WINDOWS DRIVERS this means almost full 32bit and you can make an example and execute some Dummy file while you are in Windows and then Exit to MS-DOS prompt - which is in fact nothing else than a SHELL running under Windows and try to delete the file - Access will be DENIED -

When Starting out from entering MS - DOS prompt without booting up to Windows - pressing either F8 or holding the CTRL while boot and select command prompt Only - so then you are again at the SAME SHELL - but NO WINDOWS Drivers are Loaded MSDOS.SYS has been halted so has the registry - this will enable you to run unconventional memory managers and alot of other things - but If you try to run Programs (like for Example Pctools.exe which does try to get DRIECT DISK ACCESS then )then still WINDOWS - COMMAND.COM will kick in and LOCK the computer and this doesn't matter if you boot from a CDROM - FLOPPY DISK or the HARD DRIVE itself.

To anyway making the drive accesible before executing the program like Pctools -
if you are not really sure what you are doing then DO NOT USE THE COMMAND LINE WHICH FOLLOWS THIS EXPLANATIONthen type UNLOCK C: and execute the program - if the program is too old it will CAUSE DESTRUCTION to your DATA because it CAN't READ LFN's = Long File Names.

Hopes this explains it.

[Charles]

It somehow did. I guess the main difference is that pressing F8 doesn't allow the drivers to load. Thanks.