Running the MS-DOS-Based Portion of a Windows-Based Program

Last reviewed: August 30, 1996
Article ID: Q134240
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 95

SUMMARY

To run the MS-DOS-based portion of a program that can be run in both Windows and MS-DOS within Windows, you must create a separate icon.

MORE INFORMATION

Winver.exe is an example of a program that can be run in Windows and MS-DOS. If you type "winver" in an MS-DOS window in Windows 95, the Windows-based portion of Winver runs.

To run the MS-DOS-based portion of an application within Windows 95, follow these steps:

NOTE: This example uses Winver.exe.

  1. Use the right mouse button to click the desktop, point to New on the menu that appears, and then click Shortcut.

  2. In the Command Line box, type the following line:

          c:\command.com /k c:\windows\winver.exe
    

    Note that the /k switch leaves Command.com running after the specified program is finished.

  3. Click Next.

  4. In the "Select a name for the shortcut" box, type a name, and then click Finish.

  5. Use the right mouse button to click the new icon, and then click Properties on the menu that appears.

  6. On the Program tab, click the Advanced button.

  7. Click the "Prevent MS-DOS-based programs from detecting Windows" check box to select it, and then click OK. Click OK again.

When you double-click the new icon, the MS-DOS-based portion of the program runs. Note that configuring the command prompt in this manner prevents any Windows-based program from starting from the command prompt.


KBCategory: kbui kbenv
KBSubcategory: win95 winshell
Additional reference words: 95


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Last reviewed: August 30, 1996
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