Reference number: CH000361

MS-DOS issues with Windows ME.

Issue:

MS-DOS issues with Windows ME.

Cause:

Because of the new direction that Microsoft is going with its operating systems, MS-DOS support with newer versions of Windows is becoming slimmer. The most noticeable changes occur with Windows ME, where significant changes in the operating system and its behavior have been made. Below is a listing of some issues you are likely to experience or notice when using Windows ME and how to work around these changes.

Solution:

How do I create an autoexec.bat or config.sys in Windows ME?

Windows ME features a legacy-free environment in which the IO.SYS does not process either the Config.sys or the Autoexec.bat file. However, these files are scanned for changes to environment variables that must be imported because the files contain various settings and preferences that configure the "global environment" for the computer during the boot phase and when you start a new MS-DOS Virtual Machine (VM).

*Real-mode programs and drivers can no longer be loaded. Windows ME only
supports environment values.

If the autoexec.bat / config.sys are modified, when the computer is
restarted or Windows is shutdown, Windows will remove automatically any value
that is not specified in the registry.

To specify or edit values in the *autoexec.bat* the user must edit the
following registry value:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\currentcontrolset\control\session
manager\environment

Within this key the user can modify pre-existing values that are currently
defined in the autoexec.bat

Additional information about the Windows registry can be found on our registry page.

How do I get ansi.sys to work in Windows ME?

Windows ME does not support Real-Mode drivers therefore cannot load ansi.sys. See below note to why Real-Mode support was removed.

If you need access to ansi.sys or have batch files that require it using a third-party file known as ansi.com you can get the same support as ansi.sys with improved support for all video modes, permits sizing and clearing the key-assignment buffer, and provides high-speed screen updating. Download this file from the PC Magazine ANSI.com website.

Why was Real-Mode support removed?

Microsoft gives various reasons why Real Mode was removed from Windows ME but it was primarily removed to prevent issues with Windows programs and also to help the computer boot much faster into Windows.

How can I dual boot with Windows ME?

Issues and information relating to dual booting can be found on document CH000346.

Does Windows ME have a Safe Mode?

Yes, it is accessed the same way as Windows 98; press F8 or hold down the CTRL key. Additional information about Safe mode can be found on document CHSAFE.

How to set the LASTDRIVE or FCBS statement.

This is not configurable by the user.

How to specify the FILES statement in the config.sys. This is used to set the amount of file handles in an application Job File Table (JTF).

Because Windows ME does not parse the config.sys, however, this may be needed for MS-DOS applications, this line can be defined in the system.ini in the [386Enh] section by adding the below line.

PerVMFiles=<number>

How to modify the BUFFERS statement.

The buffers values is a fixed value and cannot be changed by the user.

How to modify the STACKS statement.

Microsoft Indicates "The STACKS setting determines the number and size of the stack spaces that are created to handle interrupt handling in real mode. Because almost all of the device drivers that are used are written to run in protected mode, this value has no effect on the operation of existing MS-DOS-based programs."