Cannot Exit MS-DOS Mode

 Last reviewed: July 11, 1996
Article ID: Q151717
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you try to exit MS-DOS mode, the computer may boot back into MS-DOS mode.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if multiple instances of MS-DOS mode were started and the original Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files have been replaced.

RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, follow these steps:

  1. Use any text editor (such as Edit.com) to create a new Config.sys file in the root folder of your boot drive. The Config.sys file must not contain the following line: 

          DOS=Single

  2. Create a new Autoexec.bat file in the root folder of your boot drive. The Autoexec.bat file must not contain the following line: 

          c:\<windows>\win.com /wx

    where <windows> is the name of your Windows folder.

  3. Restart the computer.

MORE INFORMATION

When you restart the computer in MS-DOS mode, you can specify custom Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files in any of the following locations:

  • The properties for the program you are running in MS-DOS mode.
  • The properties for a shortcut that starts the program you are running in MS-DOS mode.
  • The properties for the "Exit to Dos.pif" file that is used to start Windows 95 in MS-DOS mode.

When you double-click the program or shortcut, or click the "Restart the computer in MS-DOS mode" option in the Shut Down Windows dialog box, the Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files in the root folder of the boot drive are renamed to Config.wos and Autoexec.wos, and the custom Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files are copied from one of the above locations to the root folder. When you exit MS-DOS mode, the current Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files are renamed to Config.app and Autoexec.app, the original Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files are restored from the Config.wos and Autoexec.wos files, and the Config.wos and Autoexec.wos files are deleted.

If a second instance of MS-DOS mode is started before you exit the first instance, the original Config.sys file contained in the Config.wos file may be replaced with a Config.sys file that contains the following line: 

   DOS=Single
When you then attempt to exit MS-DOS mode and start Windows 95 normally, the original Config.sys file is restored from the Config.wos file. Because this Config.sys file contains the above line, the computer boots into MS-DOS mode.

For additional information about the process that occurs when you restart your computer in MS-DOS mode, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

   ARTICLE-ID: Q138996
   TITLE     : Description of Restarting Computer in MS-DOS Mode

KBCategory: kbprb
KBSubcategory: win95 winboot
Additional reference words:

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Last reviewed: July 11, 1996
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