These two familiar files play roles very similar to those in the old MS-DOS world, with one important exception: Windows 95 automatically loads drivers and sets defaults by using the IO.SYS file and the Registry. If you have a software or hardware device that needs a driver not contained in the IO.SYS file or Registry, Windows 95 will use the commands contained within CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files.
If you edit AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS to override some of the information contained in the Registry and IO.SYS file, remember to avoid the following items.
In AUTOEXEC.BAT:
- Don't include other versions of Windows in the path statements.
- Don't add SMARTDRV.SYS or other device caches. Windows 95 has built-in disk-caching.
- Don't add any statements for loading mouse drivers. Windows 95 includes mouse support.
- Don't make your network connections by using commands in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file; do it from inside Windows 95.
In CONFIG.SYS:
- Remove any device=mouse.sys command. Windows 95 includes mouse support.
COMMAND.COM
Windows 95 comes with a few "MS-DOS-like" real-mode components. These are necessary to get it going and get into protected mode. It provides the MS-DOS prompt (C:\) and a few internal MS-DOS commands. The following table lists COMMAND.COM's internal MS-DOS commands:
| Command | Function |
|---|---|
| BREAK | Sets or clears extended CTRL+C checking. |
| CD and CHDIR | Changes to a different directory or displays the current directory. |
| CHCP | Displays the number of the active character sets. |
| CLS | Clears the screen. |
| COPY | Copies one or more files to the specified location. |
| CTTY | Changes the terminal device used to control the computer. |
| DATE | Displays or sets the current date. |
| DEL | Deletes the specified files. |
| DIR | Displays a list of the files and subfolders that exist in the current folder. |
| ERASE | Deletes the specified files. |
| EXIT | Quits the COMMAND.COM and returns to the previous program. |
| LH and LOADHIGH | Loads a program into upper memory. |
| LOCK | Enables direct disk access (allows storage and retrieval from disk without involving the CPU). |
| MD | Creates a folder or subfolder. |
| MKDIR | Same as MD. |
| PATH | Specifies which folders Windows 95 should search for executable files. |
| PROMPT | Changes the appearance of the command prompt. |
| RD and RMDIR | Deletes a folder. |
| REN and RENAME | Changes the name of a file or files. |
| SET | Displays, sets, or removes environment variables. |
| TIME | Displays or sets the current time. |
| TYPE | Displays the contents of a text file. |
| UNLOCK | Disables direct disk access. |
| VER | Displays the operating system version number. |
| VERIFY | Directs the operating system to verify that files are written correctly to a disk, and displays the status of verifications. |
| VOL | Displays the volume label and serial number for a disk. |