CONFIG.SYS
DOS=HIGH,UMB
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\SETVER.EXE
DEVICE=C:\cdrom path\cdrom driver /D:MSCD001
LASTDRIVE=Z |
Any other commands example FILES=50 or BUFFERS=15 or FCBS=40,0 or STACKS=9,256 can be left alone, some program has placed these commands here because it needs them
HIMEM.SYS - is an extended memory driver that needs to be loaded before any other program to manage extended memory and HMA (High memory area)
DOS=HIGH,UMB - loads DOS into the HMA (HIGH) and makes upper memory blocks (UMB) available to DOS
EMM386.EXE - provides upper memory support. There are many switches to use with EMM386.EXE to tell your computer how to use upper memory.
* EMM386.EXE AUTO - puts the driver into automatic mode and enables expanded memory support (EMS) and upper memory block (UMB) support only when a program calls for it.
* EMM386.EXE NOEMS - provides UMB support, but not EMS support
* EMM386.EXE RAM - provides both EMS and UMB support. If you don't specify a range in extended memory as in EMM386.EXE RAM I=B000-B7FF the driver will the addresses on it's own
SETVER.EXE - uses a version table to report appropriate DOS version numbers to programs that need this info.
If you are using a CD-ROM with a DOS program you need to tell DOS where the driver for it exists with the command DEVICE=C:\cdrom path\cdrom driver(usually a .sys file) /D:MSCD001
AUTOEXEC.BAT
@ECHO OFF
PATH c:\WINDOWSC:\WINDOWS\COMMAND
C:\WINDOWS\MSCDEX.EXE /D:MSCD001
WIN |
If you are using a soundcard or a mouse with your DOS program, the path and commands for them need to be put into you AUTOEXEC.BAT. How you load them whether with the LOAD or LH command will tell whether to load them into HMA or conventional memory. The key is the more you can cram into HMA, the more conventional memory is available for your DOS programs to run. Doesn't matter how much memory is on your system, there is only 640K conventional memory available to run programs.
The first 1024K breaks down as follows:
640K....for running DOS programs
384K....HMA where you want to load as many device drivers and DOS itself. Done with the HIMEM.SYS and EMM386.EXE commands
everything beyond the first 1024K all the way up to your 256MB total is extended memory. Most newer DOS programs will use this, but some older DOS programs still rely on EMS expanded memory which you can convert and control with the switches you add to the EMM386.EXE command.
I would setup your basic CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files first. Create backups of them first. Then in DOS you can change them from the C:\ prompt by typing EDIT CONFIG.SYS then EDIT AUTOEXEC.BAT
If you goof something up to where Win98 won't boot. You can hit F8 while the PC is boot Win98 to get to a boot menu to an interactive startup and you will get the opportunity to answer yes or no to running every command in AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS. This will give you the opportunity to see what isn't loading right. Re-edit your files and try again. Worst case scenario, you can always load Win98 in safe-mode after hitting F8 and restore your backups.
After you get Win98 up and running and everything like the mouse, cd-rom and soundcard drivers in place. Boot to MS-DOS in Win98 and run MEMMAKER at the C:\ prompt. This will configure you CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files for the best performance (most conventional memory available).
If you are unsure of any of this ASK QUESTIONS. I don't know your experience level with configuring MS-DOS and Win98.
My
very best advice is to go to VOGONS http://vogons.zetafleet.com/ these guys live for getting old DOS games to run on new computers. Spend a lot of time there lurking and searching before you start asking questions. The admins there are as nice IMHO as the admins here
