Dos 6 (Win 3.1) autoexec.bat help!

[irongutz]

Hey guys,

I have been given a laptop with Dos 6.0 (windows 3.1) on it and it was having a crap out when booting. It couldn't get past Norton Desktop Applications (NDW extension) in the boot up. I managed to get it to a C: prompt by using a boot disk and then I deleted all directories and subdirectories pertaining to NDW or Norton desktop shell. I then rebooted and it booted fine to the 3.1 AST desktop shell but, I get a error message saying cannot load Norton shell--No Kidding! I deleted it.

When I use the dir command under C:\ I still get NDW extentions under autoexec.bat and config.sys.
Can someone tell me how I can edit this extention from the auto and config sys files?

Thanks Iron

[irongutz]

In other words, I need to delete lines with NDW in the autoexec and config files. Anyone know how to open these to edit?

I deleted both of these in "DOSSHELL" but when booting I still get errors in line 1 of autoexec and config.

Thanks

[Jake]

Iron

I think dos 5.0 is when they came out with a regular edit command. Boot up off a bootable floppy, or just get to a dos prompt. Assuming that your dos path is not set, Change directories to the dos directory by typing in CD dos , then type in edit c:\autoexec.bat to edit that file, and then edit c:\config.sys for that one .

Then, from c:\dos, type in edit c:\windows\win.ini. Near the top under [Windows] you'll see a line to load norton desktop for windows ... I forget the exact name of the command ... but you need to change that to progman.exe ... then you'll get the Windows 3.1 desktop.

3.1 was great in it's day. I hope my powers of recall are working ... good luck, let me know how it goes.

--Jim

[Amro]

Originally posted by irongutz
In other words, I need to delete lines with NDW in the autoexec and config files. Anyone know how to open these to edit?

I deleted both of these in "DOSSHELL" but when booting I still get errors in line 1 of autoexec and config.

Thanks


all you have to do is from a prompt open the files..for example


c:\> edit autoexec.bat (ENTER)
-----------------------------------------
lots of stuff here
rem THE STUFF YOU DON'T WANT IS HERE
lots of stuff here
-----------------------------------------



basically put 'REM' before any line you don't want to run.

[irongutz]

Thanks guys,

I'll give it a go and hope I don't get in too deep! I'll let you know how it works out or if I have anymore questions.

Cheers,

Iron :D

[irongutz]

Guys,

I edited the lines inautoexec.bat and cofig.sys with out any problems. In fact, I don't receive anymore error when going through the boot phase (great). Oh, in the WIN.INI file I have this line:

load=navpopup.exe c:\NDW\SLEEPER.EXE c:\Mouse\POINTER.EXE
run=

I took out navpopup and NDW and left MOUSE\POINTER.EXE in the line but didn't make a difference.

I was wondering if I should place progman.exe after run= in the line above?

The only error I get now is just before the desktop appears a box comes up saying 'Unable to start Norton Desktop as the shell. Make sure Norton Desktop directory is in the path statement.
Starting Program Man.' I then hit ok and it loads the win default desktop ok.

Any ideas on where I can get rid of this annoying box other than reformatting?

Thanks guys,

Iron

[Jake]

Yeah, progman.exe needs to be either on the load line or the run line ... try it and see what happens. Not sure why NDW keeps trying to load ... look in system.ini for any ndw entries, also check the rest of win.ini for other ndw entries.

--Jim

[irongutz]

Jake,

I finally had a break through! I checked the SYSTEM.INI like you said and found the line:shell=ndw.exe (norton for windows.exe).

I deleted the line and rebooted but then just before win desktop appeared it went to a c: prompt. So, I thought I would try sticking progman.exe with theMicrosoft line:shell=progman.exe and BAM loaded beautifully with no, I mean NO errors.

Lots of work for this DOS idiot but you fixed it bud.

Thanks for your advice, it was greatfully appreciated.

Iron

[Jake]

Hey, glad to be able to help. I remember my first computer being an 8086 with one floppy drive ... no hard drive. I learned from MS-Dos 3.2 and up thru ... never thought I'd be able to use that old knowledge ... been thru many learning experiences with dos and windows ... and I even used NDW for a while on a subsequent computer ... it was pretty cool, but it's outdated for todays use.

Have fun,

--Jake

[irongutz]

I hear ya,

Although my first puter' was a 386 with HD running Win 3.1 and NDW came with. Thought it was da bomb back then and now in hind sight should have used da bomb to blow her up-- he! he!

Anyway, glad someone still around that knows a few things about DOS.

Jake, do you think a guy could load Win 95/98 on this old laptop? It's a 486SX/25 with 128MB HD 16600 Data/Fax modem and a 1.44 floppy drive internal?

Not sure if I guy would want to anyway he! he!

I guess I could still use this laptop as a word processor since I have MS Works 2.0 loaded from 1993 and transfer the files to my new puter' with MS Office 2000 eh?

Cheers :)

Iron

[Jake]

Ya know, Windows95 is not a bad program. Yeah, 98 has a lot more better features ... but it ran well on my old packard bell 486sx 20 ... but I think you want to have at least 8 megs of ram ... of course, 16 would be better. Give it a shot ... but I'd do it after a fresh format and clean install rather than an upgrade. Either way, good luck.

--Jake