Real-Mode Drivers - AUTOEXEC.BAT/CONFIG.SYS

Loading Real-Mode Drivers Via the
AUTOEXEC.BAT/CONFIG.SYS

This is probably the easiest way of achieving the desired effect that you are seeking. By loading the real-mode drivers in your AUTOEXEC.BAT/CONFIG.SYS, they will be available to you no matter which way you decide you want to start DOS, be it through Windows95's boot menu (6)Command Prompt Only choice, or by choosing "Restart in MS-DOS Mode" from Windows95's Shutdown menu.

Before we begin, you must first understand how to edit your boot files, the AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS. There are several ways in which you can gain access to your boot files.

The first and probably easiest way is by using the System Configuration Editor(SCE). Nope, you probably aren't going to find this program under your Start Menu unless of course you have already created a shortcut for this utility yourself. You can start the SCE by clicking Start, Run and then typing in the command line "SYSEDIT", without the quotes of course. This will then launch the SCE which consists of several child windows contained within a single parent window. The first window will be the contents of your AUTOEXEC.BAT. To skip to the next window, you must first close or minimize the topmost window. The next one will be your CONFIG.SYS. For all intents and purposes, we will only go into these 2 files here. If these files appear to be blank, don't panic. Windows95 doesn't require these files, but as you have already figured out, DOS still does.

For all you DOS fanatics out there, you can simply drop out to a DOS prompt(Start, Programs, MS-DOS Prompt by default) and changing to the root directory(C:\>). This is where your boot files reside. You can then simply type in "EDIT AUTOEXEC.BAT" or "EDIT CONFIG.SYS" provided DOS is in your PATH statement. This will open the DOS Editor program, which is basically a word processor in its simplest form.

AUTOEXEC.BAT

We'll start by adding the the file MSCDEX.EXE to your autoexec.bat file. MSCDEX.EXE is a common part of DOS which is included with the MS-DOS portion of Windows95. The following line needs to be included in the autoexec.bat. Where you say? Most people prefer to keep in near the bottom.

C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\MSCDEX.EXE /D:(DrvSig) /L:(DrvLetter)

-or if you have enabled the Upper Memory Area-

LH C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\MSCDEX.EXE /D:(DrvSig) /L:(DrvLetter)

Where:

(DrvSig) = the CD-ROM Drive Signature. This is perhaps the hardest part of the install as it just doesn't jump out and bite you. You have to know it or be so lucky as to have it included in the TXT file packaged with your real-mode drivers. Common examples of these are MSCD000, MSCD001, IDECE000, IDECD_00, SMSCD000, etc. This is usually specific to the make and model of your CD-ROM.

(DrvLetter) = the drive letter you wish to assign to your CD-ROM. This switch will override any setting that Windows95 has established.
Once this line has been added, you can then Save and Exit the file.

CONFIG.SYS

This is where the actual CD-ROM driver will be loaded. By now you should already have this in your possession.

DEVICE=C:\(Path)\(Driver.sys) /D:(DrvSig)

-or if you have enabled the Upper Memory Area-

DEVICEHIGH=C:\(Path)\(Driver.sys) /D:(DrvSig)

Where:

(Path) = the path to where the CD-ROM driver is stored on your hard drive(i.e. C:\CDROM)

(Driver.sys) = the CD-ROM driver itself(i.e. ATAPICD.SYS)

(DrvSig) = the CD-ROM Drive Signature. This is perhaps the hardest part of the install as it just doesn't jump out and bite you. You have to know it or be so lucky as to have it included in the TXT file packaged with your real-mode drivers. Common examples of these are MSCD000, MSCD001, IDECE000, IDECD_00, SMSCD000, etc. This is usually specific to the make and model of your CD-ROM.
Once this line has been included, you can then Save and Exit the file.

You must then reboot your PC in order for the changes to these files to take effect. If all goes as planned, you should then see your drivers loading on boot up. The actual driver in the CONFIG.SYS will load first followed by MSCDEX.EXE loading from the AUTOEXEC.BAT.