Modifying Autoexec.bat

[jayro]

The following is the content of my autoexec.bat and config.sys file as viewed in sysedit. The repeating lines in each file....I don't think they are necessary (I first noticed them in the DOS boot screen) but don't wish to change anything in the autoexec.bat or config.sys file as I really don't know what the outcome would be.

autoexec.bat file information:

SET CTCM=C:\WINDOWS
SET SOUND=C:\PROGRA~1\CREATIVE\CTSND
SET MIDI=SYNTH:1 MAP:E
SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H1 P330 T6


REM C:\SAMSUNG\MSCDEX /D:SSCD000

REM C:\SAMSUNG\MSCDEX /D:SSCD000

REM C:\SAMSUNG\MSCDEX /D:SSCD000

C:\SAMSUNG\MSCDEX /D:SSCD000

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
==============================================

config.sys file information:

device=C:\windows\himem.sys
device=C:\windows\emm386.exe NOEMS
files=60
buffers=20
dos=high,umb
stacks=9,256
lastdrive=z
REM DEVICE=C:\SAMSUNG\SSCDROM.SYS /D:SSCD000 /v

REM DEVICE=C:\SAMSUNG\SSCDROM.SYS /D:SSCD000 /v

REM DEVICE=C:\SAMSUNG\SSCDROM.SYS /D:SSCD000

REM DEVICE=C:\SAMSUNG\SSCDROM.SYS /D:SSCD000 /v

DEVICE=C:\SAMSUNG\SSCDROM.SYS /D:SSCD000


Should I remove the redundant commands or are they needed?
(the lack of the " /v " at the end of the 3rd line is not a typo...it's like that in config.sys as well)

Thanks for any help.

[HKEd]

Hi jayro...the lines with REM at the beginning can be deleted. The REM is short for REMark, which is one way of telling DOS to ignore what follows on the line. Make your autoexec.bat file look like this:

SET CTCM=C:\WINDOWS
SET SOUND=C:\PROGRA~1\CREATIVE\CTSND
SET MIDI=SYNTH:1 MAP:E
SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H1 P330 T6
C:\SAMSUNG\MSCDEX /D:SSCD000

And config.sys like this:

device=C:\windows\himem.sys
device=C:\windows\emm386.exe NOEMS
files=60
buffers=20
dos=high,umb
stacks=9,256
lastdrive=z
DEVICE=C:\SAMSUNG\SSCDROM.SYS /D:SSCD000

Nice and tidy now. :)

[jayro]

Thanks HKEd.....

that's pretty much what I was expectin' would be the answer I'd receive....but I don't know enough about dat shat to be sure about doin' stuff in those files without some outside input. I'll clean it up right now, thanks.

Jayro

[jayro]

Hey again HKEd....


In trying to change the autoexec.bat and config.sys files....it wouldn't save the changes....saying the files were "READ ONLY". How do I change that file status to make the changes?

Thanks

jayro

[HKEd]

No idea why they're read-only. Seems a little strange to me. For example, if you installed a different cound card that needed to put a new file path in autoexec.bat, it wouldn't be able to access the file.

Just locate both files, right-click > Properties. Uncheck the read-only box in each. You'll now be able to do the edits.

[jayro]

HKEd.....

Did a search for autoexec and config and had multiple returned items for each search.

A copy of config.sys exists in "C:\ & C:\unzipped\windows system settings & C:\program files\rescue disk". The contents of each are different, having checked using NOTEPAD.

A copy of autoexec exists in "C:\ & C:\NewDownloadedDrivers\NewCreativeGBX_Drv & C:\Creative & C:\Windows". Again the contents of each are different, having opened each and each file launching and running automatically in either a Windows DOS box or as in the case of the C:\NewDownloadedDrivers_CreativeGBX_Drv it informing me that it cannot be run in a Windows DOS box and I need boot into DOS to run the "flash" program. One of these files was "terminated unexpectedly" and one just had "Bad Command or File Name" after each Command Line.

The config.sys & autoexec.bat files that were pasted into my original post are the ones located in C:\

I have edited these files as per your instructions.

These other autoexec and config.sys files.......are they messing anything up and should be deleted or edited or should the be left as they are? Any ideas?

thanks again!

jayro

[Alfons]

You can have all sorts of them scattered around in other directories and they won't be used. The only ones that count are the ones in the root directory (C:\). The easiest way to edit these two files without getting windows shorts in a knot is to use your bootdisk and use the command EDIT, and you would use it like so:

1. At the A prompt, the command line looks like:
A:\>
2. Make it look like this & then press ENTER:
A:\>C:
3. This takes you to the C prompt which will look like:
C:\>
4. Then make it look like this & press ENTER:
C:\>EDIT AUTOEXEC.BAT
5. This will bring up the DOS Edit Screen with Autoexec.bat showing. If you used the W98 Startup disk, it will have loaded a mouse driver so you should be able to use it for selections on the toolbar and also for navigating around on the edit screen.
6. Save a copy of this file under a different name before you make changes to it so that you can get it back if anything goes wrong with your edits. Use a unique extension like this for example: AUTOEXEC.SAV
7. Just make sure that you save the changes after you're done.

To get the old file back, you'll have to rename the .BAT & the .SAV versions like so:

C:\> REN AUTOEXEC.BAT AUTOEXEC.BA1

and then

C:\>REN AUTOEXEC.SAV AUTOEXEC.BAT

and then

C:\DEL AUTOEXEC.SAV

You didn't need to do the last step but it cleans out one of the files that's of no more use. You can now edit the .BA1 and see what went wrong.

[jayro]

Hi Alfons,

Thanks for the reply but I'm not thinking that I needed to edit the autoexec.bat or config.sys files located in the root directory. Those have been edited already (with HKEd's reply). I was more wondering if the other autoexec.bat and config.sys files that are in various other locations were a problem or not....I'm not sure that they are....but was just wondering.....however, I have let them be and haven't edited them.

Thanks just the same....for taking the time to post a reply.

jayro

[HKEd]

Just leave them there, jayro. They're not causing any problems, hardly taking up any space, and may be needed one day. I have a few lying around myself, just as Alfons posted, in various directories.

[jayro]

HKEd.....


Ok....thanks.....I have and I will continue to do so..... :-)

Ciao,

jayro