DOCUMENT:Q74887 06-NOV-1999 [win16sdk] TITLE :How to Start a Windows-Based App Directly from MS-DOS PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit PROD/VER:WINDOWS:3.0,3.1 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kb16bitonly ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) versions 3.0, 3.1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ======= It is possible to create a Windows-based application that can be started directly from the MS-DOS prompt. For example, the KILLERAP application may be written so that when "KILLERAP" (without the quotation marks) is typed at the MS-DOS prompt, Windows is loaded and KILLERAP run. However, some specific programming is required to perform this task. Otherwise, enhanced mode Windows will produce a "Memory Segmented" error message. This article discusses the techniques required. MORE INFORMATION ================ The "Memory Segmented" error message is caused by the fact that the application that spawns Windows remains in memory when Windows loads. There is a straightforward way to work around this complication. Replace the standard WINSTUB.EXE program, provided with the Windows Software Development Kit, with a custom program tailored to the application. The following sample WINSTUB program loads the string "win notepad" into the keyboard key buffer. Then the program terminates and is removed from memory. The keystrokes in the key buffer are played back by the hardware to MS-DOS. This starts Windows and runs the program. This sample code requires Microsoft C version 6.0 or later to compile because it uses inline assembly code. A similar program may be written with the Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM) version 5.1 or later. Sample Code ----------- void main(void) { char szExecLine[] = "win notepad\r"; int iIndex; char cChar; for (iIndex = 0; iIndex < sizeof(szExecLine); iIndex++) { cChar = szExecLine[iIndex]; _asm { mov ah, 05h mov ch, 0 mov cl, cChar int 16h } } } Additional query words: 3.00 3.10 no32bit ====================================================================== Keywords : kb16bitonly Technology : kbAudDeveloper kbWin3xSearch kbSDKSearch kbWinSDKSearch kbWinSDK300 kbWinSDK310 Version : WINDOWS:3.0,3.1 ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1999.