Description of Msdos.sys
MSDOS.SYS is a file created in the root directory of the boot drive by Windows 95 setup. This text file is assigned the Read-Only (R), System (S), and Hidden (H) attributes. This is NOT THE SAME as the Msdos.sys file used by MS-DOS.
MSDOS.SYS contains two sections: [Paths] and [Options]. The [Paths] section defines the location of Windows 95 files, such as the Registry. The [Options] section permits customization of the startup process. Here are descriptions of all the options in the MSDOS.SYS file.
[Paths] section:
UninstallDir=C:\ Defines the starting location from which the Windows 95 uninstaller runs. Do not modify this line.
HostWinBootDrv=C Defines the location of the boot drive root directory.
WinBootDir=C:\WINDOWS Defines the location of required startup files. The default is the directory specified during Setup.
WinDir=C:\WINDOWS Defines the location of the Windows 95 directory as specified during Setup.
[Options] section:
BootDelay=n Sets the initial startup delay to n seconds. (The default is 2.)
BootKeys=1 enables the F4, F5, F6, and F8 boot options. (0 disables the startup keys and the delay set by the BootDelay option.)
BootSafe=0 Specifies whether to use Safe Mode for startup. (1 forces the computer to start in Safe Mode.)
BootGUI=1 Enables graphic display of the startup screen. (0 disables this feature.)
BootMenu=0 Prevents the Windows 95 'Startup' menu from appearing. (1 enables the Windows 95 'Startup' menu.)
BootMenuDefault=n Sets the default menu item on the Windows 'Startup' menu; the default is 1 if the system is running correctly. If the system was previously frozen, the value is 3.
BootMenuDelay=n Sets the number of seconds to display the Windows 'Startup' menu before running the default menu item. (The default is 30.)
BootMulti=0 Disables dual-boot capabilities. (1 enables multi-boot to the previous version of MS-DOS by pressing F4 or F8.)
BootWarn=1 Enables the Safe Mode startup warning and menu. (0 disables the warning message and the Windows 95 'Startup' menu.)
BootWin=1 Specifies whether Windows 95 is the default operating system. (0 disables Windows 95 as the default.)
NOTE: This is useful only running MS-DOS 5 or 6.x.
DblSpace=1 Specifies automatic loading of DBLSPACE.BIN. (0 prevents automatic loading.)
DoubleBuffer=0 Disables double-buffering. (1 enables double-buffering when needed for SCSI controllers.)
DrvSpace=1 Specifies automatic loading of DRVSPACE.BIN. (0 prevents automatic loading.)
LoadTop=1 Loads COMMAND.COM or DRVSPACE.BIN at the top of 640K memory. (0 prevents this action.)
NOTE: Setting LoadTop=0 is useful when troubleshooting compatibility problems with other software packages.
Logo=1 Displays the Windows 95 logo during startup. (0 disables this function.)
Network=0 Disables 'Safe mode with network support' as a Windows 95 'Startup' menu option. (1 enables this option.)