How to Boot Your Previous Version of MS-DOS By Default

ID: Q142323

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

This article describes how to configure your computer to boot your previous version of MS-DOS by default.

Note that this information does not apply to computers running Windows 95 OEM Service Release versions 2.0, 2.1, or 2.5, or to computers using the FAT32 file system. This information does apply to computers running Windows 98 if MS-DOS was installed on the computer before Windows 95 or Windows 98 was installed.


MORE INFORMATION

To configure your computer to boot your previous version of MS-DOS by default, follow these steps:

  1. Start an MS-DOS session.


  2. Type the following line at the command prompt, and then press ENTER:

    attrib c:\msdos.sys -s -h -r

    NOTE: If drive C is compressed, use the ATTRIB command to modify the Msdos.sys file on the host drive for drive C.


  3. Use any text editor (such as Notepad) to open the Msdos.sys file.

    NOTE: If drive C is compressed, edit the Msdos.sys file located on the host drive for drive C.


  4. Add the following lines to the [Options] section of the file, if these lines do not already exist:
    
      BootMulti=1
      BootWin=0


  5. Save and then close the Msdos.sys file.


  6. Type the following line at the command prompt, and then press ENTER:
    
      attrib c:\msdos.sys +s +h +r
    NOTE: If drive C is compressed, use the ATTRIB command to modify the Msdos.sys file on the host drive for drive C.


  7. Restart your computer.


When you restart your computer, your previous version of MS-DOS is started by default. To boot Windows 95, press the F4 or F8 key shortly before you see the "Starting MS-DOS" message. To boot Windows 98, press F4 or F8 as soon as the computer restarts and hold the key down until the computer completes its Power On Self Test (POST). 


Keywords          : win95 winboot win98 
Version           : WINDOWS:95,98
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: January 27, 1999