I need help with Dos mode

[SeeKay]

I have an OLD computer that I use to run old games. One game needs MS-DOS
mode and CD-ROM access. The default MS-DOS mode on my Win-95 does not have a
driver for the CD (or the mouse driver, but I can fix that one). I can find
the MSCDEX.EXE but only the CDFS.vxd file. Do I need to find a .sys CD-ROM
file or can the CDFS file work in the Config.sys section?

If yes, what do I type in Config.sys to get it to work

If no, any suggestions on where to find a .sys CD-ROM system file that works
with Win-95. And no, I don't need a CD-read/write one. I'm not 100% sure the
make of the CD drive since this is a cobbled computer from old parts, so I'll
need a generic driver not some brand name system file.

 

[John John]

I think you need to use the CD-ROM drivers from the drive manufacturer,
you will have to identify the CD-ROM drive and see if you can find the
real mode drivers for it.

You will probably find the information you need in these search results:

http://search.yahoo.com/search_ylt=...S-mode"+"CD-ROM+driver"&y=Search&fr=yfp-t-501
http://search.yahoo.com/search_ylt=...-DOS-mode+CD-ROM+driver&y=Search&fr=yfp-t-501

John

SeeKay wrote:
> I have an OLD computer that I use to run old games. One game needs MS-DOS
> mode and CD-ROM access. The default MS-DOS mode on my Win-95 does not have a
> driver for the CD (or the mouse driver, but I can fix that one). I can find
> the MSCDEX.EXE but only the CDFS.vxd file. Do I need to find a .sys CD-ROM
> file or can the CDFS file work in the Config.sys section?
>
> If yes, what do I type in Config.sys to get it to work
>
> If no, any suggestions on where to find a .sys CD-ROM system file that works
> with Win-95. And no, I don't need a CD-read/write one. I'm not 100% sure the
> make of the CD drive since this is a cobbled computer from old parts, so I'll
> need a generic driver not some brand name system file.
>

 

[Ben Myers]

"SeeKay" <u38355@uwe> wrote in message news:79dd91acae251@uwe...
> I have an OLD computer that I use to run old games. One game needs MS-DOS
> mode and CD-ROM access. The default MS-DOS mode on my Win-95 does not have a
> driver for the CD (or the mouse driver, but I can fix that one). I can find
> the MSCDEX.EXE but only the CDFS.vxd file. Do I need to find a .sys CD-ROM
> file or can the CDFS file work in the Config.sys section?
<snip>

Go to http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm and create a Windows 95
boot floppy. Start the problem computer in DOS, insert the floppy and
type the following four lines. Then remove the floppy and restart. You
might want to back up your existing "c:\autoexec.bat" and "c:\config.sys"
before making any changes. Please note that the CD drive will probably
be assigned drive letter "R:\".

copy /y a:\autoexec.bat c:\
copy /y a:\mscdex.exe c:\
copy /y a:\c*.sys c:\
copy /y a:\himem.sys c:\

Ben

 

[glee]

A Mitsumi real-mode CD driver works with many CD drives....it's what I used for
years with a variety of CD drives. The file, mtmcdai.sys, is available here after
free registration:
http://www.cdrom-drivers.com/drivers/11/11135.htm

Or, I could email it to you along with a few other "generic" DOS CD drivers, if you
supply me with a valid email address. You can email me with a valid address, at
glen.vee @ gmail dot com

You have not made clear exactly how you are doing this. Are you editing the
autoexec.bat and config.sys files for Windows, to load you DOS drivers? This is not
the best method, nor is the method described by Ben (which is also incomplete, BTW,
as it does not supply you with the needed .sys file).

If you want to use the Windows startup files for this, then in the c:\config.sys
file, add a DEVICEHIGH line to load the CD .sys file, but use the DOSSTART.BAT file
to load MSCDEX.EXE so that it only loads when restarting in DOS mode.

For more control over the restart in MS-DOS mode, the Exit to DOS.pif properties
should be changed to 'Specify a new configuration', so that the shortcut itself can
be customised for DOS mode, leaving the config.sys and autoexec.bat clean when
booted to Windows.

"Exit to DOS.pif" is the actual DOS shortcut file used by Windows for the Start Menu
option "Restart in MS-DOS Mode". You can right-click it and click Properties,
Program tab> Advanced button, then select Specify a New Configuration, after which
you can add whatever lines you need for DOS CD drivers and mouse drivers, right
there in the properties of the shortcut.

Here are some examples of the types of commands used for loading the CD drivers,
whether they be in the autoexec.bat and config.sys on the C: drive, or the
dosstart.bat and config.sys files on the C: drive, or in the autoexec.bat and
config.sys sections of the Exit to DOS.pif when specifying a new configuration:
http://www.computerhope.com/ac.htm

If it is only one game you are doing this for, instead of modifying the Exit To
DOS.pif, you can make "private' startup files for this one game to run in DOS mode:
-Find the executable file (.exe or .com) for the game in question, right-click it
and click Properties from the menu that appears.
-Click the Program tab, then the Advanced button.
-Put a check in the box that says 'MS-DOS Mode' if you want a confirmation message
each time you start the game, check the 'Warn before entering..' box.
-Click to select the 'Specify a new MS-DOS configuration' radio button the private
autoexec.bat and config.sys boxes will be enabled.
-Click the 'Configuration' button, and choose the items you want to utilise, then
click OK.
-Manually edit the private autoexec and config files in the boxes, to add or modify
what you need to load.
-Click OK when done.
-Put a check in the 'Close on Exit' box, and click OK.

No matter which of these methods you use, once you are finished with the game and
want to return to Windows, you type EXIT at the command prompt and press Enter.

More info:

From: Description of Restarting Computer in MS-DOS Mode
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=138996

"When you restart your computer by choosing the "Restart the computer in MS-DOS
mode" option in the Shut Down Windows dialog box, Windows closes all running
programs, removes itself from memory, and then starts a real- mode command prompt.
If the Use Current MS-DOS Configuration option is selected in the "Exit to DOS.pif"
file that is used to restart the computer in MS-DOS mode, the Dosstart.bat file in
the Windows folder is processed. If the Specify A New MS-DOS Configuration option is
selected, the Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files listed in the "Exit to DOS.pif" file
are used instead of the Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files in the root folder."

Also see:
http://cquirke.mvps.org/9x/whatdos.htm#Specify_a_New

If you need some help setting up the private startup files in the .pif file, post
back with your questions.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"SeeKay" <u38355@uwe> wrote in message news:79dd91acae251@uwe...
>I have an OLD computer that I use to run old games. One game needs MS-DOS
> mode and CD-ROM access. The default MS-DOS mode on my Win-95 does not have a
> driver for the CD (or the mouse driver, but I can fix that one). I can find
> the MSCDEX.EXE but only the CDFS.vxd file. Do I need to find a .sys CD-ROM
> file or can the CDFS file work in the Config.sys section?
>
> If yes, what do I type in Config.sys to get it to work
>
> If no, any suggestions on where to find a .sys CD-ROM system file that works
> with Win-95. And no, I don't need a CD-read/write one. I'm not 100% sure the
> make of the CD drive since this is a cobbled computer from old parts, so I'll
> need a generic driver not some brand name system file.
>

 

[SeeKay via WindowsKB.com]

There is only one program that I need to run in Dos mode so I just use the
selective program for the custom autoexec.bat/config.sys from Windows 95. For
every other program, I'm able to just run it in a "dos environment" in
windows. I've already opened the original .exe for the game and put in the
mouse driver and double-checked the sound card. Now I need to get the CD to
work, because it is using the Win 95 virtual drivers that don't work in Dos
mode.

This computer is put together from parts of 3 other computers. The CD-Rom was
the only thing that was working on the computer that I fished it out of. The
hard-drive (which contained it's original driver) on that computer was fried,
but Win 95 was able to use it with it's plug-and-play drivers. I'm not sure
who made the CD-drive and I don't want to take the screws out and play with
the case since the tower has a slight bend in it's cover and it takes forever
to get that damn thing back on when you take it off. I started messing with
IBM's/Clones back in the MS-Dos 4.0 days, so I sort of know what I need to
add to the autoexec.bat/config.sys files. I can find something that should
work in the .bat file, but the .sys files are non-existent. Really, I just
need the .sys file that will work with the CD and the win 95 driver, but I
know that Microsoft products can be real bitchy about files working with each
other so I'd like to get the .com/.exe file as well as the .sys file that
work together that will run this CD-drive.

I'm just now trying to see if your drivers will work. I'll let you know if
this works or not. As of right now, it does not.

>
>You have not made clear exactly how you are doing this. Are you editing the
>autoexec.bat and config.sys files for Windows, to load you DOS drivers? This is not
>the best method, nor is the method described by Ben (which is also incomplete, BTW,
>as it does not supply you with the needed .sys file).
>
>If you want to use the Windows startup files for this, then in the c:\config.sys
>file, add a DEVICEHIGH line to load the CD .sys file, but use the DOSSTART.BAT file
>to load MSCDEX.EXE so that it only loads when restarting in DOS mode.
>
>For more control over the restart in MS-DOS mode, the Exit to DOS.pif properties
>should be changed to 'Specify a new configuration', so that the shortcut itself can
>be customised for DOS mode, leaving the config.sys and autoexec.bat clean when
>booted to Windows.
>
>"Exit to DOS.pif" is the actual DOS shortcut file used by Windows for the Start Menu
>option "Restart in MS-DOS Mode". You can right-click it and click Properties,
>Program tab> Advanced button, then select Specify a New Configuration, after which
>you can add whatever lines you need for DOS CD drivers and mouse drivers, right
>there in the properties of the shortcut.
>
>Here are some examples of the types of commands used for loading the CD drivers,
>whether they be in the autoexec.bat and config.sys on the C: drive, or the
>dosstart.bat and config.sys files on the C: drive, or in the autoexec.bat and
>config.sys sections of the Exit to DOS.pif when specifying a new configuration:
>http://www.computerhope.com/ac.htm
>
>If it is only one game you are doing this for, instead of modifying the Exit To
>DOS.pif, you can make "private' startup files for this one game to run in DOS mode:
>-Find the executable file (.exe or .com) for the game in question, right-click it
>and click Properties from the menu that appears.
>-Click the Program tab, then the Advanced button.
>-Put a check in the box that says 'MS-DOS Mode' if you want a confirmation message
>each time you start the game, check the 'Warn before entering..' box.
>-Click to select the 'Specify a new MS-DOS configuration' radio button the private
>autoexec.bat and config.sys boxes will be enabled.
>-Click the 'Configuration' button, and choose the items you want to utilise, then
>click OK.
>-Manually edit the private autoexec and config files in the boxes, to add or modify
>what you need to load.
>-Click OK when done.
>-Put a check in the 'Close on Exit' box, and click OK.
>
>No matter which of these methods you use, once you are finished with the game and
>want to return to Windows, you type EXIT at the command prompt and press Enter.
>
>More info:
>
>From: Description of Restarting Computer in MS-DOS Mode
>http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=138996
>
>"When you restart your computer by choosing the "Restart the computer in MS-DOS
>mode" option in the Shut Down Windows dialog box, Windows closes all running
>programs, removes itself from memory, and then starts a real- mode command prompt.
>If the Use Current MS-DOS Configuration option is selected in the "Exit to DOS.pif"
>file that is used to restart the computer in MS-DOS mode, the Dosstart.bat file in
>the Windows folder is processed. If the Specify A New MS-DOS Configuration option is
>selected, the Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files listed in the "Exit to DOS.pif" file
>are used instead of the Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files in the root folder."
>
>Also see:
>http://cquirke.mvps.org/9x/whatdos.htm#Specify_a_New
>
>If you need some help setting up the private startup files in the .pif file, post
>back with your questions.

--
Message posted via WindowsKB.com
http://www.windowskb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/windows-95-general/200710/1

 

[Ben Myers]

"SeeKay via WindowsKB.com" <u38355@uwe> wrote in message news:7a3aa15788498@uwe...
> There is only one program that I need to run in Dos mode so I just use the
> selective program for the custom autoexec.bat/config.sys from Windows 95. For
> every other program, I'm able to just run it in a "dos environment" in
> windows. I've already opened the original .exe for the game and put in the
> mouse driver and double-checked the sound card. Now I need to get the CD to
> work, because it is using the Win 95 virtual drivers that don't work in Dos
> mode.
<snip>

One of the most popular DOS CD drivers is "oakcdrom.sys".

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=oakcdrom.sys

Download the file or copy it from another computer and put it in the
"c:\windows" directory of the Windows 95 computer. Find the game's
DOS executable, right-click it, select "Properties", "Program", click
"Advanced", make sure that "MS-DOS mode" is checked, select
"Specify a new MS-DOS configuration" and add the following to the
"config.sys" and "autoexec.bat" boxes. Click "OK", then "OK" again.

Config.sys:

device=c:\windows\oakcdrom.sys /D:CD2

Autoexec.bat:

c:\windows\command\mscdex.exe /D:CD2

Ben

 

[glee]

Thanks Ben.
I'm just now getting back to this thread, and you've given a great response, so I'll
leave it at that.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/


"Ben Myers" <benjmyers@mindR-e-m-o-v-Espring.com> wrote in message
news:eaqUa5$FIHA.4712@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
"SeeKay via WindowsKB.com" <u38355@uwe> wrote in message news:7a3aa15788498@uwe...
> There is only one program that I need to run in Dos mode so I just use the
> selective program for the custom autoexec.bat/config.sys from Windows 95. For
> every other program, I'm able to just run it in a "dos environment" in
> windows. I've already opened the original .exe for the game and put in the
> mouse driver and double-checked the sound card. Now I need to get the CD to
> work, because it is using the Win 95 virtual drivers that don't work in Dos
> mode.
<snip>

One of the most popular DOS CD drivers is "oakcdrom.sys".

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=oakcdrom.sys

Download the file or copy it from another computer and put it in the
"c:\windows" directory of the Windows 95 computer. Find the game's
DOS executable, right-click it, select "Properties", "Program", click
"Advanced", make sure that "MS-DOS mode" is checked, select
"Specify a new MS-DOS configuration" and add the following to the
"config.sys" and "autoexec.bat" boxes. Click "OK", then "OK" again.

Config.sys:

device=c:\windows\oakcdrom.sys /D:CD2

Autoexec.bat:

c:\windows\command\mscdex.exe /D:CD2

Ben