Knowledge Base

Cannot Exit MS-DOS Mode

Article ID: 151717

Article Last Modified on 1/19/2007

Microsoft Windows 95
Microsoft Windows 98 Standard Edition
Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition

This article was previously published under Q151717

SYMPTOMS

When you try to exit MS-DOS mode, the computer may boot back into MS-DOS mode.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if multiple instances of MS-DOS mode were started and the original Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files have been replaced.

RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, follow these steps:

Use any text editor (such as Edit.com) to create a new Config.sys file in the root folder of your boot drive. The Config.sys file must not contain the following line:
DOS=Single
Create a new Autoexec.bat file in the root folder of your boot drive. The Autoexec.bat file must not contain the following line:
c:\<windows>\win.com /wx
Where <windows> is the name of your Windows folder.
Restart the computer.

MORE INFORMATION

When you restart the computer in MS-DOS mode, you can specify custom Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files in any of the following locations:

The properties for the program you are running in MS-DOS mode.
The properties for a shortcut that starts the program you are running in MS-DOS mode.
The properties for the "Exit to Dos.pif" file that is used to start Windows 95 in MS-DOS mode.

When you double-click the program or shortcut, or click the "Restart the computer in MS-DOS mode" option in the Shut Down Windows dialog box, the Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files in the root folder of the boot drive are renamed to Config.wos and Autoexec.wos, and the custom Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files are copied from one of the above locations to the root folder. When you exit MS-DOS mode, the current Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files are renamed to Config.app and Autoexec.app, the original Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files are restored from the Config.wos and Autoexec.wos files, and the Config.wos and Autoexec.wos files are deleted.

If a second instance of MS-DOS mode is started before you exit the first instance, the original Config.sys file contained in the Config.wos file may be replaced with a Config.sys file that contains the following line:

   DOS=Single

When you then attempt to exit MS-DOS mode and start Windows 95 normally, the original Config.sys file is restored from the Config.wos file. Because this Config.sys file contains the above line, the computer boots into MS-DOS mode.

For additional information about the process that occurs when you restart your computer in MS-DOS mode, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

138996 Description of Restarting Computer in MS-DOS Mode

For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

130448 Cannot Quit MS-DOS Mode

Keywords: KB151717