-------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 6.0, 6.2, 6.21, 6.22 -------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ======= If the MENUDEFAULT command in your CONFIG.SYS file is incorrectly set, the time-out value defaults to zero. As a result, the startup menu is not displayed when you start your machine. Common problems with menudefault settings include using the full menu descriptor (menu_text) instead of the menu block name and using non-numeric characters. To determine if your menu default is incorrectly set, restart your computer and press the F8 function key when the text "Starting MS-DOS..." is displayed. If the time-out is defaulting to zero, the menu is displayed. If the menu is not displayed, another problem exists. MORE INFORMATION ================ Do not use more than one word for your block name. If you want to use text to describe your menu options, use a one-word block name followed by the description. For example, consider the following menu items: menuitem=dev, Development Configuration menuitem=wfwg, Windows for Workgroups menuitem=games, Games menuitem=files, Files and Buffers Only [dev] [wfwg] [games] [files] For these menu items, the four default menu possibilities are "development," "wfwg," "games," and "files." When you use the menudefault setting, do not include the descriptor text. For example, menudefault=wfwg, 30 If you include the descriptor text, it is interpreted as the time-out setting. Since it is non-numeric text, the menu is not displayed. For example, the following menudefault line is incorrect: menudefault=wfwg, Windows for Workgroups, 30 REFERENCES ========== For help on using a multiple configuration menu, type "help multiconfig" (without the quotation marks) at the MS-DOS command prompt or see chapter 4 of "Microsoft MS-DOS User's Guide" for version 6 and 6.2. For help on using the MENUDEFAULT command in your CONFIG.SYS file, type "help menudefault" (without the quotation marks) at the MS-DOS command prompt. KBCategory: kbenv KBSubcategory: wfw msdos Additional reference words: 6.22 6.00 6.20 ============================================================================= Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1997. PSS ID Number: Q101557 Article last modified on 11-21-1994 PSS database name: MSDOS 6.00 6.20 6.21 6.22 MS-DOS -------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 6.0, 6.2, 6.21, 6.22 -------------------------------------------------------------------- When using multiple configurations, the MENUDEFAULT timer option does not work for submenus if the timer for the top-level menu is interrupted. This operation is by design. The MENUDEFAULT timer is designed to give you a certain amount of time to select a configuration of your choice. If you do not respond within the allotted time period, the assigned default configuration is executed. However, if you select a submenu before the timer reaches zero, the timer for the submenu is not available. NOTE: The MENUDEFAULT timer can be put under the submenu options. This gives you an additional timer count for the new MENUDEFAULT choice. KBCategory: kbother KBSubcategory: msdos Additional reference words: 6.22 6.00 menu multi config multiconfig 6.20 ============================================================================= Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1994. Do some of your Windows 95 users still need to occasionally use proprietary DOS applications that won't run from a DOS window in Windows 95? If so, ou've probably taught your users to press [F8] when they see the Starting Windows 95 message and then select the Command prompt only option from the Microsoft Windows 95 Startup Menu. You've probably also told them that they can restart the system to a DOS prompt by selecting the Restart the computer in MS-DOS mode option from the Shut Down Windows dialog box. However, both of these methods can be confusing and time consuming for your users. Fortunately, using a few tricks left over from DOS, you can create a simple multiple configuration startup menu that gives your users the option f booting to Windows 95 or running the proprietary DOS application each time they turn on their system. To begin, edit the existing CONFIG.SYS file by adding the following commands to the top of the file: [menu] menuitem win95, Windows 95 menuitem dosapp, DOS Application menudefault win95, 10 [win95] [dosapp] dos=single [common] (You can also create a new CONFIG.SYS file that includes these commands.) The key component is the DOS=SINGLE command, which Windows 95 executes when you select the DOS Application item from the menu. This command, which causes our computer to start in MS-DOS mode, is the same one Windows 95 uses when you select the Restart the computer in MS-DOS mode option from the Shut Down Windows dialog box. As you can see in Figure A, we've configured Windows 95 to be the default enu item. We've also instructed Windows 95 to automatically launch if the user doesn't make a selection within ten seconds. Now that you've created the startup menu, you need to place the following commands in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file: @echo off cls goto %config% :dosapp call c:\path\dosapp.exe win/w :win95 In the fifth line, replace PATH with the location of your proprietary DOS application and DOSAPP.EXE with the name of its executable file. When you select the DOS Application item from the menu, the CONFIG.SYS file creates an environment variable with the same name as the configuration lock, in this case DOSAPP. The AUTOEXEC.BAT file then uses this environment ariable to direct the flow of its commands to the :DOSAPP section. This section contains a CALL command that launches your proprietary DOS application. The AUTOEXEC.BAT file now enters a holding pattern until you exit the DOS application. At that point, the WIN/W command prompts you to press a key to restart the system. The Startup menu will again appear, and you can launch Windows 95. The article entitled A Simple Way to Multiboot was originally published in Windows 95 Professional, July 1997. Copyright 1997, The Cobb Group, 9420 Bunson Parkway, Louisville, KY 40220. All rights reserved. For subscription information, call the Cobb Group at 1-800-223-8720. We at Microsoft Corporation hope that the information in this work is aluable to you. Your use of the information contained in this work, however, is at your sole risk. All information in this work is provided "as is," without any warranty, whether express or implied, of its accuracy, completeness, fitness for a particular purpose, title or non-infringement, and none of the third-party products or information mentioned in the work are authored, recommended, supported or guaranteed by Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft Corporation shall not be liable for any damages you may sustain by using this information, whether direct, indirect, special, incidental or consequential, even if it has been advised of the possibility of such damages. --- *Durango b200 #NR* DurangoMail for Windows NT/95 --- QScan/PCB v1.17b / 01-0406 * Origin: Knight Moves - Rochester,NY 716-865-2106 (1:2613/313) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 263 WINDOWS '95 Ref: F5P00194 Date: 05/15/98 From: SCOTT LITTLE Time: 08:17pm \/To: ALL (Read 7 times) Subj: Multiple IPs? Hello all, Does Windows handle multiple IPs (on the one NIC), if so, how? -- Scott Little, 3:712/848@fidonet ; slittle@cyberia.asstdc.com.au www.asstdc.com.au/~cyberia --- FMail/Win32 1.22+ * Origin: Cyberia: You know you want it. [02-9534-1702] (3:712/848) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 263 WINDOWS '95 Ref: F5P00195 Date: 05/06/98 From: AARON JACOBS Time: 07:32am \/To: WILLIAM GRINOLDS (Read 7 times) Subj: Win98 and NT5 WG> AJ> Are any of you actually going to install Windows 98? WG> Yep. WG> Contrary to what everybody's seen on TV, Win98 is worlds more stable WG> than Win95. Unfortunately, Bill Gates made it crash and accidentally WG> gave you (and everyone else) that impression. Before making a WG> determination like that, I would at least try it before deciding for WG> yourself. Just my opinion. Yeh good point. I might have to try it and see. WG> I don't know if it'll be NT5, I think it'll be more like NT6. But WG> yes, I've heard... Yeh probably will be something like that. By the time they release it.. Aaron ... OS/2: The sane way to jump out of Windows. -*- TurboEDIT v1.60a [MSP96] --- FMail/386 1.22 * Origin: All the Best from Savage BBS, Australia. (3:624/230) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 263 WINDOWS '95 Ref: F5P00196 Date: 05/06/98 From: AARON JACOBS Time: 07:34am \/To: BRYAN TAYLOR (Read 7 times) Subj: Win98 and NT5 BT> If you read more of the messages on this thread, I think you'll find BT> we have a good number on proud 98 owners now! :) (I'm not one of BT> them though....) :-) Hmm right ok thanks.. BT> If you think about it, there is VERY little written in DOS anymore. BT> Our current Windows has been based on backward compatibility, meaning BT> it HAD to run this older code. Soon Windows 16bit software will BT> carry the same burden as DOS currently does, and DOS will be a museum BT> piece. That of course assumes the PTB get their way. By the time all BT> this occurs, you don't think NT will have taken its next leap to BT> where ever it might be going? It seems to me that it wasn't that BT> long ago that to have access to a system as powerful as the Cray, was BT> the ultimate dream of most power users. Now my desktop would kick BT> that Cray, but the new Cray is still that mile above. See what I'm BT> getting at? It is a never-ending cycle isn't it. :) Yes I have to agree with you there. It is one big cycle. Aaron ... He who laughs last didn't understand the joke. -*- TurboEDIT v1.60a [MSP96] --- FMail/386 1.22 * Origin: All the Best from Savage BBS, Australia. (3:624/230) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 263 WINDOWS '95 Ref: F5P00197 Date: 05/06/98 From: AARON JACOBS Time: 07:36am \/To: CHARLES SCAGLIONE (Read 7 times) Subj: Win98 and NT5 CS> AJ>Are any of you actually going to install Windows 98? CS> Sure, it's a worthwhile upgrade IMO. Yes, thats what I have heard. CS> No, I already have NT 4.0 installed. NT 5.0 probably will not ship CS> until late this year or the first quarter of 99. (?????) Microsoft is CS> currently beta-testing Service Release 4 for NT 4.0 so it doesn't CS> seem likely they're going to ship 5.0 anytime soon. Hmm really? I didnt know that.. CS> That's speculation. Each OS has been specifically designed for its CS> audience. Computer magazines and the writers they employ love to CS> "kick up dust" and mention that every now and then. In reality, who CS> knows what Microsoft has in mind? (other than desiring to dominate CS> the world desktop computing market) NT on the other hand, if expected CS> to be the desktop OS of the future, will have to become as compatible CS> and user friendly as Win95/98 in order for it to be accepted as such. Yes, I guess, depending one which magazine/web site you read this things on, they all have their own oppinion. Aaron ... Windows: Just say NO!!! -*- TurboEDIT v1.60a [MSP96] --- FMail/386 1.22 * Origin: All the Best from Savage BBS, Australia. (3:624/230) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 263 WINDOWS '95 Ref: F5P00198 Date: 05/06/98 From: AARON JACOBS Time: 07:39am \/To: ALL (Read 7 times) Subj: Win95/NT compared to Linux Can I ask... What is all of your opinions on Linux.. How is it compared to '95/NT. I know it is more of a networking related operating system. Please tell me anything more you know about it and compred it to 95/NT Aaron ... Oxymoron: Fast Windows -*- TurboEDIT v1.60a [MSP96] --- FMail/386 1.22 * Origin: All the Best from Savage BBS, Australia. (3:624/230) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 263 WINDOWS '95 Ref: F5P00199 Date: 05/16/98 From: BILL DAWSON Time: 01:58pm \/To: EARL MONTGOMERY (Read 7 times) Subj: Reinstall EM> I have no idea what the files I deleted had to do with causing the EM> READERR. All I know is that it allowed QT to be iinstalled. BD> What's interesting is that over time, the sort of intuition that BD> led you to get rid of some files that "looked wrong" becomes part BD> of what experienced PC users depend on, and is difficult to teach BD> to new folks. It's like there are only a few ways to do things, BD> and when you have used computers long enough, you have more of a BD> feel for what is "right" or "wrong" and you can pull off more of BD> those neat tricks. EM> Gosh! Thanks Bill! We tend to build our mental databases haphazardly, but those still work anyway, however they are "constructed." After learning one spreadsheet program, the next such is far easier, for instance. This subconscious reliance on a store of experience is why some of the "intuitive leaps" in doing anything can usually be back-traced later to a series of mental connections that our rather interesting brains can often pull off without our conscious minds ever being aware of the way we arrived at some idea or other. Your database didn't include that many files with the extension "$$$" in them, so they looked wrong to you. Of course, far too many times, in the beginning, such intuitive choices are based on too little data, and can be wrong. Thus, a beginner finds computers "hard" to understand without the store of experience. You, quite obviously, are moving ahead out of the raw novice stage, and feel elated over it. Feels neat, doesn't it? Bill D --- * Origin: Hands off! You won't steal this one, (1:387/601.4)