Windows registry, tips for working on the computer
Configuring the Windows Boot Process with msdos.sys
It turns out that you can manage Windows settings not only using the registry, but also by other means. One such tool is ini-files (for example, win.ini, system.ini). According to Microsoft's oaths, settings in ini-files are left only for compatibility with old versions of programs, however, and many modern programs continue to actively use them. However, this article does not cover them, but one more way to configure Windows, which provides the ability to manage the Windows startup, namely the msdos.sys file and its parameters.
The file is in the root of the boot disk and has the attributes "Read Only", "Hidden" and "System", so if you are going to edit it, say, Norton Commander or Volcov Commander, then you need to remove these attributes beforehand, and After the editing is finished, restore them again. In FARe, this is not necessary: it can edit such files without problems, just when saving, it prompts that the file is read-only and asks whether it should be rewritten.
The file must have a size of at least 1024 bytes, so at the end of it there are lines of type
; Xxxxxx ... xxxa
; Xxxxxx ... xxxxb
.......
; Xxxxxx ... xxxxs
The semicolon at the beginning of the line means a comment and is ignored. So when you make changes, just in case old records do not delete, but comment. Then you will not be painfully hurt if something turns out wrong, and you do not have to remember what you removed there.
Well, after such a long introduction, perhaps you can go directly to the story about the parameters of this file. All parameters are divided into two sections: [Paths] and [Options]. In the first section, there are parameters that indicate the paths necessary for loading, in the second - parameters that directly control the download.
[Paths]
WinDir is the path where Windows was installed.
WinBootDir - the path to the directory with the files needed to load. In general, the value of this parameter and WinDir are the same.
HostWinBootDrv - the drive from which to download. In 99% is the disc "C".
UninstallDir - this option is present only if you installed the OS on top of another, with the previous version preserved. The value is the path to the W9xundo.dat and W9xundo.ini files that are required to uninstall Windows.
[Options]
BootMulti - if equal to 1 (bold is selected as the default), then at boot time, when the text "Loading Windows 9x" appears, you can press F4 and load the previous version of DOS. 0 - F4 will not work. It is better to set this value to 0, still you do not use this option, o the system waits for a few seconds of pressing this key.
BootGUI - 1 - Windows boot with a graphical shell. 0 - when you boot, you will get to DOS. If you need to load the graphical user interface (GUI), you need to enter the win command (run the win.com file in the Windows directory).
DoubleBuffer - 1 - allows double buffering for SCSI controllers. 0 - respectively, prohibits. If there is no SCSI controller, it is better to set the value to 0.
Autoscan - controls the behavior of ScanDisk during boot with an incorrect exit from Windows: 0 - blocks the start of ScanDisk; 1 - starts ScanDisk, with the notification of the beginning of the scan; 2 - starts ScanDisk automatically without any notifications. It is necessary to switch off or not, it's up to you. If you want to be safe, do not turn it off (it's better to set 2, so do not wait for the button to start scanning), I recommend that everyone else turn off the rest.
WinVer - from the name it's easy to guess that the value is written in the Windows version.
BootKeys - 1 - allows you to use the control keys when loading (F5, F8, etc.). 0 - prohibits.
BootDelay - sets the delay in seconds during the boot, during which the system waits for the boot loader keys to be pressed (F5, F8, etc.). The default value is 2.
BootMenuDefault - sets which item in the boot menu, called by F8, will be selected by default after the set time. The default value is 3 for computers without network components and 4 for network computers.
BootMenuDelay - the time that the computer waits for a choice from the boot menu. The default is 30 seconds. If another menu item is selected during the waiting period, the counter disappears and the computer waits for Enter to continue.
BootMenu - 1 - every time you start Windows, a boot menu appears. 0 - respectively, does not appear.
BootSave - 1 - every time you start Windows starts in Safe Mode. 0 - Windows starts fine.
BootWarn - 1 - allows a warning about loading in Safe Mode. 0 - prohibits.
BootWin - 1 - When you boot, Windows will boot. 0 - download the previous version of DOS.
Logo - 1 - At the time of download, a picture with the Windows logo will be displayed. 0 - disables the display of the splash screen at startup. If you are tired of this screensaver, you can turn off its output. You can also replace this screensaver with your own. The standard picture is "wired up" in the io.sys file, but you can create a file logo.sys in the root of the boot disk and it will have an advantage over io.sys. More details about this are written in one of the advice ("People's Wisdom") of 13.11.01.
DblSpace - 1 - allows automatic loading of Dblspace.bin. 0 - disables the download of Dblspace.bin. If you do not use compressed disks, disable this option, as well as the next one (as you will free up extra RAM, which is never superfluous).
DrvSpace - 1 - allows automatic loading of Drvspace.bin. 0 - disables the download of Drvspace.bin.
LoadTop - 1 - allows downloading Command.com and Drvspace.bin to the upper memory. 0 - prohibits. It is better not to change.
NetWork - 1 - shows the "Safe Mode With Networking" item in the boot menu. If there is no network support, it must be set to 0.
DisableLog - 0 - create a Windows boot log file (bootlog.txt - a hidden file in the root directory of the system disk). 1 - the log file is not created. If you have problems during the download, enable the creation of a log file and see what you get. Perhaps this will help fix the problems.
The file msdos.sys is case-insensitive, so the entries "Logo" and "logo" are equivalent.
The main thing, remember one rule: before you change something in the file, create a backup. Precautions are not superfluous, but this can save a lot of time and nerves, if something goes wrong (though it's impossible to spoil anything definitively and irrevocably, so experiment boldly).
Comments
When commenting on, remember that the content and tone of your message can hurt the feelings of real people, show respect and tolerance to your interlocutors even if you do not share their opinion, your behavior in the conditions of freedom of expression and anonymity provided by the Internet, changes Not only virtual, but also the real world. All comments are hidden from the index, spam is controlled.