Re: Windows 95 and DOS mode

> Re: Windows 95 and DOS mode
>
> > True, but when you restart the computer in DOS mode (to play one of your
> > older DOS games that you just can't live without) you will find that you ha
> > no access to your CD-ROM, mouse, sound card, or network.  You will have to
> > create a shortcut to MS-DOS with the original DOS Config.Sys and Autoexec.B
> > and leave it on your desktop.  Then use this to go to DOS mode, instead of
> > using the Shutdown Menu.
> > Badman
> What is wrong with placing those items in Dosstart.bat? or even in the
> Config.sys/Autoexec.bat?

Putting them in Dosstart.Bat is a GOOD IDEA.  Then they will only be called
when you restart in DOS mode.  Putting them in the Windows 95 Config.Sys and
Autoexec.Bat can cause problems.

Okay people, here's the real skinny on DOS drivers in Win95.  In a perfect
computer, one that uses a real Sound Blaster Pro, a Trident or S3-based video
card, and a Mitsumi or NEC cd-rom, the Config.sys is BLANK and the
Autoexec.bat doesn't exist.  This is the best setup for Windows 95.

However, we all know that "nonstandard" (by Microsoft's definition) hardware
exists.  If there is no Windows 95 driver for your hardware, then the only
way to get such a piece of hardware to be detected by Windows 95 is to load
the DOS driver.  Then Windows will (sort of) detect it.

Case in point:  My computer at work had a Boca SE1440 sound card in it.  The
Windows 95 drivers from Boca wouldn't work on my system (conflict with the
SCSI drivers I think).  I loaded the Csacmod.sys driver in my Config.sys,
then had Windows 95 look for new hardware.  Windows 95 found it as a Sound
Blaster Pro, which the SE1440 emulates.  Yes, it's a goat-fucked hack, but it
works.

The drawbacks:  First, your computer is going to take a LOT longer to start
up, since it has to process these startup files as well as everything else it
does at startup (like searching your hard drive for copies of
Microsoft-competitive software).

Second, your computer's performance may suffer.  By using these 16-bit real
mode drivers instead of Win95's native 32-bit drivers, you rob the system of
some resources.  This is especially true for cd-roms.  But if it's the only
way to get stupid ole' Windows to see your hardware, go ahead and do it.

Hope this helps.

Badman