How to Create an Msdos.sys File Larger Than 1024 Bytes

Last reviewed: March 15, 1996
Article ID: Q129998
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 95

SUMMARY

Some programs expect the Msdos.sys file to be at least 1024 bytes in length. If it is not, these programs may not work correctly. For example, if an anti-virus program detects that the Msdos.sys file is less than 1024 bytes in length, the program may assume that the Msdos.sys file is infected with a virus.

If you use the SYS command to transfer system files from your Windows 95 Startup disk to the hard disk, the Msdos.sys file that is copied to the hard disk is less than 1024 bytes in length. This article describes how to create an Msdos.sys file that is at least 1024 bytes in length.

MORE INFORMATION

To create an Msdos.sys file that is at least 1024 bytes in length, follow these steps:

  1. At a command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after each line:

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

  2. Add the following lines to the Msdos.sys file

    [Paths] WinDir=<Windows> WinBootDir=<Windows> HostWinBootDrv=C

    [Options] BootGUI=1 ; ;Some programs on this system expect the Msdos.sys file to be at least ;1024 bytes in length; hence, the following lines create an Msdos.sys ;file that is greater than 1024 bytes in length. These lines are not ;needed for Windows 95 to boot or run. ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxa ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxb ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxc ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxd ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxe ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxf ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxg ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxh ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxi ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxj ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxk ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxl ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxm ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxn ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxo ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxp ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxq ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxr ;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxs

    where <Windows> is the folder containing Windows 95 (for example, C:\Windows). If you are using disk compression software (such as DriveSpace), change the letter in the "HostWinBootDrv=" line to the letter of the host drive.

    You must add the lines with all the Xs to make the Msdos.sys file at least 1024 bytes in length.

  3. Save the Msdos.sys file and then exit Edit.com

  4. Type the following line, and then press ENTER:

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

  5. Restart your computer.


KBCategory: kbenv
KBSubcategory: win95 winboot
Additional reference words: 95


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Last reviewed: March 15, 1996
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