Can one of you computer techies help me?

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Author Topic:   Can one of you computer techies help me?

Dreadnought posted 07-26-99 06:55 PM ET
Ya ya, well, whenever I try to run a DOS program (emulators, DOS-based games), I get that damn blue windows screen, and then I have to restart my puter. This just started happening recently, probly when I was purging my HD for free space. If you need my system specs, I'll post 'em.
sandworm posted 07-26-99 07:08 PM ET
You'll probably have to reboot into DOS rather than use a DOS Window.
Most of my old games needed me to reboot to work right. I don't have any of the old settings I used handy or I'd post them, but I'm sure there's a REAL techie out there who knows them by heart.
Try rebooting into DOS, though, that often works.
Dreadnought posted 07-26-99 07:20 PM ET
Well, the thing is whenever I click the install button, I get the blue screen.
White_Cat posted 07-26-99 07:55 PM ET
DOS programs under Windows are strange beasts. Some run best in a box under Windows, others when you "Restart in MS-DOS mode," and others when you boot straight into DOS at startup (hit F8 when you see "Starting Windows 9x" and choose "Command prompt only").
GaryD posted 07-27-99 05:27 AM ET
You may find some hidden files in your root directory.
One will be a text file (can't recall its name, something.sys I think, but don't quote me.
This can be edited if you are careful to not bring in the graphics on boot up (the change should be obvious I think it is changing a 1 to a 0, or something like that).
It keeps the Windows out of the system, and might just help. (Don't forget to backup before editing though.)
MiKaeLe posted 07-27-99 02:02 PM ET
Hehe..I had to reply here..
GaryD, those files are called Config.sys and Autoexec.bat. Damn, has it been so long since DOS has gone to the recycling tanks? Modyfing those won't do any good though. They are probably either empty, or not present at all. Although, a line could be cousing problems. This one in perticular: DOS=HIGH. If you see this in your config.sys, delete it. Hmm, I don't think Win would start at all if this line is present, but, oh well.
What I think the problem is, would be either a low memory(RAM) problem, if running Win98, or low disk space, but the best way to analise this problem would be to see your specs here.
The ultimate solution: Re-install Windows. And don't put all those crappy little programs you got right now, just put what you realy use.
Spoe posted 07-27-99 04:50 PM ET
No, the file GaryD is referring to is MSDOS.SYS, and by setting BootGUI equal to 0 you will boot to a DOS prompt. However, you first have to make the file writeable(since it is, by default, a hidden read-only system file) by doing
ATTRIB -R -S -H MSDOS.SYS
in the root directory and then
ATTRIB +R +S +H MSDOS.SYS
after you are finished editing it.
Of course, after doing this you can still get into windows by the WIN command.
MiKaeLe posted 07-27-99 09:54 PM ET
Okay, what you did is make the file -r(not wrie protected) -s(have no idea-guess system something from your post) and -h(not hidden). But what we end up with is booting to a dos prompt, which is easily done by either choosing command prompt only, or shut down in DOS mode. What Dreadnought was asking was, how to run dos games under Windows, not in DOS.
jig posted 07-27-99 10:07 PM ET
Best thing to do? Reinstall windows...
Dreadnought posted 07-27-99 10:25 PM ET
Just so you know, I finnaly got my puter back to normal. I just installed 95, then 98. For some reason, that worked better than just reinstalling 98. I spent about 5 fun-filled hours last night installing and reinstalling. Now, for all of you who posted in this thread, here is a funny picture of Cat-Spider(TM) for your enjoyment.
GaryD posted 07-28-99 04:01 AM ET
De javu. Seen that picture before
Unconvinced that the DOS you get when editing MSDOS.SYS is the same as you get via any other method of getting to DOS. The reason is that I used to boot directly into DOS this way, and the environment would act differently than was obtained getting into DOS by other methods.
It convinced me that Windows was still a GUI over DOS despite the hype.
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Author	Topic: Can one of you computer techies help me?
Dreadnought	posted 07-26-99 06:55 PM ET Ya ya, well, whenever I try to run a DOS program (emulators, DOS-based games), I get that damn blue windows screen, and then I have to restart my puter. This just started happening recently, probly when I was purging my HD for free space. If you need my system specs, I'll post 'em.
sandworm	posted 07-26-99 07:08 PM ET You'll probably have to reboot into DOS rather than use a DOS Window. Most of my old games needed me to reboot to work right. I don't have any of the old settings I used handy or I'd post them, but I'm sure there's a REAL techie out there who knows them by heart. Try rebooting into DOS, though, that often works.
Dreadnought	posted 07-26-99 07:20 PM ET Well, the thing is whenever I click the install button, I get the blue screen.
White_Cat	posted 07-26-99 07:55 PM ET DOS programs under Windows are strange beasts. Some run best in a box under Windows, others when you "Restart in MS-DOS mode," and others when you boot straight into DOS at startup (hit F8 when you see "Starting Windows 9x" and choose "Command prompt only").
GaryD	posted 07-27-99 05:27 AM ET You may find some hidden files in your root directory. One will be a text file (can't recall its name, something.sys I think, but don't quote me. This can be edited if you are careful to not bring in the graphics on boot up (the change should be obvious I think it is changing a 1 to a 0, or something like that). It keeps the Windows out of the system, and might just help. (Don't forget to backup before editing though.)
MiKaeLe	posted 07-27-99 02:02 PM ET Hehe..I had to reply here.. GaryD, those files are called Config.sys and Autoexec.bat. Damn, has it been so long since DOS has gone to the recycling tanks? Modyfing those won't do any good though. They are probably either empty, or not present at all. Although, a line could be cousing problems. This one in perticular: DOS=HIGH. If you see this in your config.sys, delete it. Hmm, I don't think Win would start at all if this line is present, but, oh well. What I think the problem is, would be either a low memory(RAM) problem, if running Win98, or low disk space, but the best way to analise this problem would be to see your specs here. The ultimate solution: Re-install Windows. And don't put all those crappy little programs you got right now, just put what you realy use.
Spoe	posted 07-27-99 04:50 PM ET No, the file GaryD is referring to is MSDOS.SYS, and by setting BootGUI equal to 0 you will boot to a DOS prompt. However, you first have to make the file writeable(since it is, by default, a hidden read-only system file) by doing ATTRIB -R -S -H MSDOS.SYS in the root directory and then ATTRIB +R +S +H MSDOS.SYS after you are finished editing it. Of course, after doing this you can still get into windows by the WIN command.
MiKaeLe	posted 07-27-99 09:54 PM ET Okay, what you did is make the file -r(not wrie protected) -s(have no idea-guess system something from your post) and -h(not hidden). But what we end up with is booting to a dos prompt, which is easily done by either choosing command prompt only, or shut down in DOS mode. What Dreadnought was asking was, how to run dos games under Windows, not in DOS.
jig	posted 07-27-99 10:07 PM ET Best thing to do? Reinstall windows...
Dreadnought	posted 07-27-99 10:25 PM ET Just so you know, I finnaly got my puter back to normal. I just installed 95, then 98. For some reason, that worked better than just reinstalling 98. I spent about 5 fun-filled hours last night installing and reinstalling. Now, for all of you who posted in this thread, here is a funny picture of Cat-Spider(TM) for your enjoyment.
GaryD	posted 07-28-99 04:01 AM ET De javu. Seen that picture before Unconvinced that the DOS you get when editing MSDOS.SYS is the same as you get via any other method of getting to DOS. The reason is that I used to boot directly into DOS this way, and the environment would act differently than was obtained getting into DOS by other methods. It convinced me that Windows was still a GUI over DOS despite the hype.