DOS Tips

NEED SPACE IN CONFIG.SYS LINE

WARNING: In last issue's DOS tips we said that you could create a file named CONFIG.SYS and include the following line:

shell=c:\command.com /p.

The purpose of this suggestion was to provide a way for a quick exit to DOS, freeing up space normally occupied by the system manager and the built in applications. There are many other uses for the CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files. To avoid potential data loss, heed the following advice whenever creating the CONFIG.SYS file:

• First, back up your files to another computer or at least to a RAM card.
• Be sure you leave a blank space between the last "m" in command.com and the /p. Failure to leave the blank space will cause your 95LX to lock up and make it necessary to do a hard reboot (press <Ctrl>-<Shift>-<On>) and then re initialize the C drive, losing all C drive data. If you lock up the 95LX this way, the only way to avoid re-initializing the C drive is to borrow someone else's 95LX and create on a RAM Card (A drive) a correct copy of the CONFIG.SYS file. Put that RAM Card in your HP 95LX and reboot (press <Ctrl>-<Alt>-<Del>). Once you're 95LX is running again, enter MEMO and fix C: CONFIG.SYS so you don't lock up again. (Your HP Dealer may have a self-booting Demonstration RAM Card. Insert that in your card slot and reboot as described above.)
• If you have a RAM card, put the CONFIG.SYS file on the RAM card, not on the C drive. If you made a mistake creating the CONFIG.SYS file, simply remove the RAM Card from the card slot and reboot (<Ctrl>-<Alt>-<Del>) to get the system back. Then insert the RAM card again and use MEMO to fix CONFIG.SYS on the RAM Card.