The following is an appendix to the FreeDOS Spec This section addresses the DOS Config.sys and usage.

FreeDOS Spec

Appendix, Config.sys

In each of the following, d: represents a drive letter, path represents a full pathname, and file represents a full filename, or a file mask including * and ?.

break
Sets the control-c check.

  break=on
  break=off

Options:
  break=on turns on the control-c check.  If the user presses
  control-c, it will be intercepted by the kernel and
  ignored. break=off turns this behavior off.

buffers
Allocates memory for disk buffers during kernel startup.

  buffers=nn[,n]

Options:
  nn is the number of buffers, in the range 1-99.

  n is the number of secondary buffers, in the range 1-8.

country
Sets the international behavior of DOS.

country=nnn[,[mmm][,[d:][path]file]]

Options:
  nnn is the country code, as shown in the table below.

  mmm is the code page, as listed in the Appendix, Country Codes.  If
  not specified, a code page will be chosen automatically.

  d:path\file is the pathname to a country-information file.  If not
  specified, the file 'COUNTRY.SYS' is used instead.

Refer to the Appendix, Country Codes for a listing of DOS country codes and time/date formats.

device
Loads a driver into memory.

device=[d:][path]file [options]

Options:
  d:path\file is the driver to load.

  'options' are the options to the driver program, not to the 'device'
  instruction.

devicehigh
Loads a driver into high memory.

devicehigh=[d:][path]file [options]

Options:
  d:path\file is the driver to load.

  'options' are the options to the driver program, not to the 'device'
  instruction.

dos
Tell the DOS kernel how to load itself.

dos=high|low[,umb|noumb]
dos=[high|low,]umb|noumb

Options:
  dos=high tells DOS to load itself into high memory.  You must first
  load a high memory manager.

  dos=low tells DOS to load into conventional memory.

  dos=umb tells DOS to keep a link between UMA and conventional.

  dos=noumb tells DOS not to keep a link between UMA and conventional.

driveparm
Defines parameters for block devices.

driveparm=[options]

Options:
  /d:nnn is the physical drive number, in the range 0-255. 0=A:

  /c says if the drive can detect when the door is open/closed.

  /f:n is the drive type, in the range 0-9
    0=160/180k or 320/360k
    1=1.2M
    2=720k (the default)
    3=[not defined]
    4=[not defined]
    5=hard disk
    6=tape
    7=1.44M
    8=R/W optical
    9=2.88M

  /h:nn is the number of heads, in the range 1-99.

  /i says the disk is a 3.5-inch drive

  /n is a non-removable disk

  /s:nn is the number of sectors, in the range 1-99

  /t:nn is hte number of tracks per side

fcbs
Sets the number of File Control Blocks.

  fcbs=nnn

Options:
  nnn is the number of File Control Blocks, in the range 1-255
  (default=4)

files
Sets the number of allowed open files.

  files=nnn

Options:
  nnn is the number of files that DOS will allow to be open at once,
  in the range 8-255 (default=8)

install
Runs a TSR program, without an environment, instead of using a something like LH or LOADHIGH.

  install=[d:][path]file [options]

Options:
  d:path\file is the TSR to run

  options are for the TSR, not for the 'install' instruction

lastdrive
Sets the last letter of the alphabet that can be used as a drive letter.

  lastdrive=c

Options:
  c is a letter, in the range A-Z.  It may be upper or lowercase.

rem
A comment.

  rem [comment]

Options:
  'rem' will ignore everything that follows it on the same line.

shell
Says what DOS shell to run.

  shell=[d:][path]file [options]

Options:
  d:path\file is the shell program to run.  For example, COMMAND.COM

  'options' are for the shell program, not the 'shell' instuction.

stacks
Adds stacks to handle hardware interrupts.

  stacks=nn,nnn

Options:
  nn are the number of stacks in the range 8-64, and 0.

  nnn are the size of each stack, in bytes, in the range 32-512.

Changes to this document:

Sep 1998: First revision.


Copyright © 1998 Jim Hall

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