Microsoft KB Archive/101921

= MS-DOS TSR's in a Windows NT Command Prompt =

Article ID: 101921

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.1
 * Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1

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This article was previously published under Q101921



SUMMARY
The Windows NT command prompt, CMD.EXE, is a 32-bit application and therefore does not use the _DEFAULT.PIF or any of its settings, including the default AUTOEXEC.NT and CONFIG.NT files. Any drivers or TSR's added into the AUTOEXEC.NT and the CONFIG.NT will not be available at the command prompt.

Creating a Windows NT MS-DOS (16-bit) command prompt with active MS-DOS drivers or TSR's can be accomplished in the following three ways:

Procedure 1

 * 1) Create a CONFIG.XXX and AUTOEXEC.XXX that are set up to run the desired drivers and TSR's, where XXX is an extension you create.
 * 2) Create a Program Information File (PIF) that executes CMD.EXE from the SYSTEM32 directory.
 * 3) In the PIF Editor of the Windows NT Options, use the CONFIG.XXX and AUTOEXEC.XXX that you created in Step 1.
 * 4) Create an icon to execute this PIF.

Procedure 2
This procedure automates command line entries.

 Create a batch file that executes the desired TSR's; for example, DOSKEY macros.  Create a new command prompt icon with the following as the command line: CMD.EXE /k C:\XXX where C:\XXX is the drive, directory, and filename of the batch file created in Step 1. 

This procedure will run the command prompt with the desired TSR's, but it will be a 16-bit Virtual DOS Machine (VDM). The process, NTVDM.EXE, will be launched, unless it is already running.

Procedure 3
This procedure uses the above batch file in a PIF.

 Create a batch file that executes the desired TSR's; for example, DOSKEY macros. Using the PIF Editor, create a PIF that executes CMD.EXE from the SYSTEM32 directory.  On the Optional Parameters line, add the following /k C:\XXX where C:\XXX is the drive, directory and filename of the batch file created in Step 1.  Create an icon to execute this PIF.</li></ol>

This procedure will run the command prompt with the desired TSR's, but it will be a 16-bit Virtual DOS Machine (VDM).

Additional query words: prodnt command.com

Keywords: KB101921

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