Undocumented DOSstart.bat  Windows 95  September 1995

This text file explains C:\WINDOWS\DOSSTART.BAT, a batch file that
WIN95's setup program created when I upgraded from WIN31.

DOSstart.bat contains the left over TSR and device driver command 
lines that used to be in C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT but were REMarked out (REM)
by WIN95 setup because WIN95 contained superior built in device
drivers that used little or no conventional memory.

DOSstart.bat is run (AUTOmaticallyEXECuted) when you "Shut Down" 
Win95 and select the option:
"Restart the computer in MS-DOS mode"

In my case DOSstart.bat contains 2 command lines.
The first loads my MS Mouse Driver.
The second loads my MSCDEX (Microsoft CD-ROM Extensions) Driver.

I wanted to edit these 2 command lines (change the command order, 
parameters and LOADHIGH the drivers).  I could see that Restarting my 
computer in MS-DOS mode executed these lines but I could not find any 
documentation how the process worked.

I searched for an explanation in the MS WIN95 Resource Kit on CD-ROM
and in Book form.  I searched the C:\WINDOWS\*.TXT files.  I searched
WIN.INI and SYSTEM.INI.  Finally I discovered the batch file, 
DOSstart.bat.

DOSstart.bat seems to be UNDOCUMENTED or perhaps UNDERDOCUMENTED.
I could find no mention of it in the Official Microsoft online or
printed documentation.  Maybe it is documented in 3rd party books
and articles. Or maybe I missed it in my searching.

I now think of DOSstart.bat as the tail end of the old DOS
AUTOEXEC.BAT.  Many of you may have figured this out right away but it
took me a while to find it.

Another use for DOSstart.bat is at startup (system boot).  If you hit
F8 at bootup when "Starting Windows 95 . . ." appears you get an 
options menu.  This menu is well documented in the "Introducing
Microsoft Windows95" Manual on pages 82 to 83.  If you select the 
option "Command Prompt Only", CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT execute and
you get a C:\> command prompt.  BUT, in my case, NO DOS MOUSE or DOS
CD-ROM.  If you type "DOSSTART" the batch file runs (it is in the PATH)
and loads the drivers needed to run pure DOS complete with DOS drivers
(if for some reason you need MS-DOS mode at startup time.)

I hope this explanation and rambling helps someone in their endless
PC upgrading, performance tuning and troubleshooting.

Richard McGoey        compuserve:  70042,3606
Albuquerque, NM       internet:    70042.3606@compuserve.com