Why is there an Autoexec.bat and Config.sys?

[Paul]

Why is there an Autoexec.bat and Config.sys in the root directory? XP
installed them, and they are both empty. I am very familiar with them
from the old Dos days, but what purpose do they serve in XP, especially
since they are blank??????

At least one of the files gets mentioned here.
The MSDOS Command Prompt probably needs some stuff.
The files could be there for some kind of customization involving NTVDM.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314106

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_DOS_machine [NTVDM]

Paul

 

[casey.o]

Why is there an Autoexec.bat and Config.sys in the root directory? XP
installed them, and they are both empty. I am very familiar with them
from the old Dos days, but what purpose do they serve in XP, especially
since they are blank??????

 

[casey.o]

Why is there an Autoexec.bat and Config.sys in the root directory? XP
installed them, and they are both empty. I am very familiar with them
from the old Dos days, but what purpose do they serve in XP, especially
since they are blank??????

At least one of the files gets mentioned here.
The MSDOS Command Prompt probably needs some stuff.
The files could be there for some kind of customization involving NTVDM.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314106

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_DOS_machine [NTVDM]

Paul

I dont have the time to read this now, but I was wondering if it's
possible to dual boot to XP or Dos? I recall someone saying that could
be done with W2K. I dont intend to do it. I can use my Win98 computer,
but I'm curious.

 

[micky]

Why is there an Autoexec.bat and Config.sys in the root directory? XP
installed them, and they are both empty. I am very familiar with them
from the old Dos days, but what purpose do they serve in XP, especially
since they are blank??????

At least one of the files gets mentioned here.
The MSDOS Command Prompt probably needs some stuff.
The files could be there for some kind of customization involving NTVDM.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314106

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_DOS_machine [NTVDM]

Paul

I dont have the time to read this now, but I was wondering if it's
possible to dual boot to XP or Dos?

Of course.

 

[Hot-Text]

Why is there an Autoexec.bat and Config.sys in the root directory? XP
installed them, and they are both empty. I am very familiar with them
from the old Dos days, but what purpose do they serve in XP, especially
since they are blank??????

Some Software and drive Need to use it

For I have Audio HARDWARE

loads it drives with
Autoexec.bat on one of my XP
LH C:\WINDOWS\AU30DOS.COM

 

[Stan Weiss]

On my W2K and XP systems I have
device=%SystemRoot%\system32\ansi.sys
So that I can run an old MASM program I wrote many years ago

Stan

 

[casey.o]

I assume we're assuming he is using FAT32 for the boot drive then, and not
NTFS.

Or, if you have XP on NTFS (which is generally preferable), one could
alternatively boot up on a DOS thumb drive, but that's assuming the computer
was new enough to allow for that boot option in BIOS, or on a DOS CD,
perhaps. I'm guessing that thumb drive option won't apply in his case,
though.

I do have FAT32. I want to be able to access stuff from a dos boot
floppy if needed.

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

In message <[email protected]>,

I do have FAT32. I want to be able to access stuff from a dos boot
floppy if needed.

If you're using FAT32, you can boot from a DOS boot floppy anyway - no
dual boot arrangement needed. (Or are you saying you knew that and
that's why you chose FAT32?)

Of course, it won't see the long filenames.

 

[micky]

I'm still using FAT32 on one drive myself, though it's not like I should
be a role model. I stumble through most of this stuff. But I don't
need the space I'd save with NTFS, and I don't need more speed. As
soon as I get more speed, I get used to it and it doesn't seem much
faster anymore.

If you're using FAT32, you can boot from a DOS boot floppy anyway - no
dual boot arrangement needed. (Or are you saying you knew that and
that's why you chose FAT32?)

Of course, it won't see the long filenames.

There is a program that will allow it to see them. LFN.com maybe.
People in the dos groups will probably know. Unfortunately,
groups.google has ruined itself so you have to pick one ng to search in
at a time. So sad.

 

[Hot-Text]

I do have FAT32. I want to be able to access stuff from a dos boot
floppy if needed.

Good Move

 

[BillW50]

Good Move

I haven't used a DOS boot floppy in years. As I have replaced it with
BartPE and WinPE.

 

[BillW50]

I still use it on very old PCs at work with old Norton Ghost 2003
DOS and OS images for testing purposes. At least 3.5" disksboot
way faster than WinPE on optical discs are too slow. These slow
PCs can't boot USB medias too.

Good point! Although I mainly use Windows 2000, XP, 7, and 8. And a
DOS boot disc isn't very helpful there. Also Casey is now running XP
now.