Computer Restarts When Exiting MS-DOS Mode

• Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

After you restart Windows 95 in MS-DOS mode using the current configuration (which does not require Windows 95 to reboot the computer before starting MS-DOS mode), Windows 95 may reboot the computer when you exit MS-DOS mode.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if a real-mode device driver for MS-DOS mode is being loaded from the Dosstart.bat file. The computer is restarted to remove the real-mode device driver from memory when you exit MS-DOS mode.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

If you want to prevent Windows 95 from rebooting the computer when you exit MS-DOS mode, disable the device driver in the Dosstart.bat file in the Windows folder. To disable a line in the Dosstart.bat file, place the word "rem" (without quotation marks) at the beginning of the line.

WARNING: If you disable a device driver in the Dosstart.bat file, it will not be available in MS-DOS mode. The device for which the device driver is loaded may not work in MS-DOS mode.

You can also load the real-mode driver in the Autoexec.bat file instead of the Dosstart.bat file. However, doing so causes the device driver to be loaded at all times.