Microsoft KB Archive/188157

= Windows 98 Sample Program Information (.pif) Files =

Article ID: 188157

Article Last Modified on 1/23/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows 98 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q188157



SUMMARY
Windows 98 includes the following sample program information (.pif) files:


 * "MS-DOS Mode for Games.pif"
 * "MS-DOS Mode for Games with EMS and XMS Support.pif"

This article describes these sample files. You can use these sample files as a baseline for creating your own custom configurations for MS-DOS-based programs.



MORE INFORMATION
Windows configures conventional memory in the same manner as MS-DOS for backwards compatibility. The majority of programs written for MS-DOS run on Windows. If a program does not run in Windows, you can start the computer in MS-DOS mode to run the program.

A .pif file is used to start a program written for MS-DOS within Windows, and can also be used to configure a unique environment for individual MS-DOS-based programs that run in MS-DOS mode.

To create a unique environment for an MS-DOS-based program:


 * 1) Right-click the program's executable (.exe) file or its .pif file, and then click Properties.
 * 2) Click the Program tab, and then click Advanced.
 * 3) Click to select the MS-DOS Mode check box, and then click Specify A New MS-DOS Configuration.
 * 4) Modify the entries in the Config.sys For MS-DOS Mode and Autoexec.bat For MS-DOS Mode boxes to optimize the program's environment. For information about optimizing memory usage, see the "References" section of the article.

"MS-DOS Mode for Games.pif" File
The "MS-DOS Mode for Games.pif" file restarts Windows in MS-DOS mode with an environment optimized for games. This .pif file maximizes available conventional memory by loading device drivers in high memory and provides extended memory (XMS) support.

The "MS-DOS Mode for Games.pif" file uses the following configuration:

Config.sys:

  REM ****************************************************** REM ** Sample Windows 98 Program Information File REM ** Optimize Conventional Memory (TPA) REM ** Extended Memory (XMS) Support REM ******************************************************

REM ** This example assumes C:\WINDOWS is the Windows directory REM ** Modify the path to match your configuration

REM ** Increasing available TPA improves performance in MS-DOS mode REM ** Load items high to increase available TPA REM ** The order in which items are loaded may affect utilization of the UMA

REM ** Following are required to load items in upper memory DOS=HIGH,UMB DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS

REM ** DEVICEHIGH= is required to load a device in upper memory REM ** OAKCDROM.SYS is a IDE/ATAPI CD ROM driver REM ** Copy OAKCDROM.SYS from Startup disk to C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND REM DEVICEHIGH=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\OAKCDROM.SYS /D:mscd001

REM ** If compressed with DriveSpace, load it high to increase the TPA

REM DEVICEHIGH=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\DRVSPACE.SYS /MOVE

REM ** Install MS-DOS support for hardware in this environment

Autoexec.bat:

  REM ****************************************************** REM ** Sample Windows 98 Program Information File REM ******************************************************

REM ** Set environment variables SET TMP=c:\windows\TEMP SET TEMP=C:\windows\TEMP SET PROMPT=MS-DOS Mode $p$g SET winbootdir=C:\WINDOWS SET PATH=C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND

REM ** LH is required to load items in upper memory REM ** MSCDEX is required to access the CD ROM in MS-DOS mode REM ** Specify a CD ROM drive letter with /L:[drive letter] REM LH C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\MSCDEX.EXE /D:mscd001

CLS ECHO ****************************************************** ECHO **    Windows 98 MS-DOS Mode                       ** ECHO **    Extended Memory (XMS) Support                ** ECHO **                                                 ** ECHO **    Type EXIT to return to Windows 98            ** ECHO ******************************************************

REM ** Install MS-DOS support for hardware in this environment

"MS-DOS Mode for Games with EMS and XMS Support.pif" File
The "MS-DOS Mode for Games with EMS and XMS Support.pif" file is used to restart Windows in MS-DOS mode with an environment optimized for games that require enhanced memory (EMS) support. This .pif file maximizes available conventional memory by loading devices high and provides both XMS and EMS support.

The "MS-DOS Mode for Games with EMS and XMS Support.pif" file uses the following configuration:

Config.sys:

  REM ****************************************************** REM ** Sample Windows 98 Program Information File REM ** Optimize Conventional Memory (TPA) REM ** Expanded (EMS) and Extended Memory (XMS) Support REM ******************************************************

REM ** This example assumes C:\WINDOWS is the Windows directory REM ** Modify the path to match your configuration

REM ** Increasing available TPA improves performance in MS-DOS mode REM ** Load items high to increase available TPA REM ** The order in which items are loaded may affect utilization of the UMA

REM ** Following are required to load items in upper memory DOS=HIGH,UMB DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS REM ** EMM386 can emulate EMS within XMS REM ** The RAM switch sets aside 64K of the UMA as a page frame for use with EMS

REM ** Using multiple of 1024, this example reserves an additional 4mb of XMS for EMS emulation

DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE 4096 RAM

REM ** DEVICEHIGH= is required to load a device in upper memory REM ** OAKCDROM.SYS is a IDE/ATAPI CD ROM driver REM ** Copy OAKCDROM.SYS from Startup disk to C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND REM DEVICEHIGH=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\OAKCDROM.SYS /D:mscd001

REM ** If compressed with DriveSpace REM DEVICEHIGH=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\DRVSPACE.SYS /MOVE

REM ** Install MS-DOS support for hardware in this environment

Autoexec.bat:

  REM ****************************************************** REM ** Sample Windows 98 Program Information File REM ******************************************************

REM ** Set environment variables SET TMP=c:\windows\TEMP SET TEMP=C:\windows\TEMP SET PROMPT=MS-DOS Mode $p$g SET winbootdir=C:\WINDOWS SET PATH=C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND

REM ** LH is required to load items in upper memory REM ** MSCDEX is required to access the CD ROM in MS-DOS mode REM ** Specify a CD ROM drive letter with /L:[drive letter] REM ** Load MSCDEX file into EMS with /E REM LH C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\MSCDEX.EXE /D:mscd001

CLS ECHO ****************************************************** ECHO **    Windows 98 MS-DOS Mode                       ** ECHO **    Expanded Memory (EMS) Support                ** ECHO **                                                 ** ECHO **    Type EXIT to return to Windows 98            ** ECHO ******************************************************

