December
1st week:
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Microsoft DOS (Disk Operating System) is a command line user interface. MS-DOS 1.0 was released in 1981 for IBM computers and the latest version of MS-DOS is MS-DOS 6.22, which was released in 1994. While MS-DOS is not commonly used by itself today, it still can be accessed from every version of Microsoft Windows by clicking Start / Run and typing "command" or by typing "CMD" in Windows NT, Windows 2000 or Windows XP.
Remarking lines within the autoexec.bat or the config.sys allows you to temporarily or permanently prevent a line from loading each time you boot the computer. This is done by placing "REM " in front of the line you wish to skip.
If you are encountering issues with a line in the autoexec.bat it is highly recommended that you remark the line instead of removing it. This will prevent issues from arising if the line needs to be placed back into the autoexec.bat.
Dos commands
cd= change directory, md= make directory
| @echo off | Tells DOS to just read the lines but don't echo them back to the screen. |
| SET SOUND=C:\PROGRA~1\CREATIVE\CTSND | This example is for the particular sound card that we have in one of the machines that we have. The set sound is telling the computer to send all sound events that the computer may run to that directory. |
| SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H5 P330 E620 T6 | Tells the computer to set the sound blaster settings. This is a good line for game players; if you have this line in your autoexec.bat you will know all settings for your sound card. A220 = port address "220", I5 = IRQ 5, D1 = DMA 1 usually being the settings you will need for any game out on the market. |
| SET PATH=C:\WINDOWS;C:\ | Sets the computer to look in the C:\windows directory or the root if a command used at the prompt is not found. |
| LH C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\MSCDEX.EXE /D:123 | Line used for the CD-ROM. If you have Windows 95+, the MSCDEX will always be in the C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND. In Windows 3.x or DOS, this will usually be either in C:\DOS or C:\WINDOWS directory. The /D:123 is the name of the driver name that loads in upper memory; this can be anything, usually /D:MSCD0001. However, this is not an actual driver, this is just the name for the driver. Ensure if you change this line that you change it in the config.sys on your CD-ROM line. If the two are not the same, your CD-ROM drive will not load. |
| LH C:\MOUSE\MOUSE.EXE | Loads the mouse driver into memory. However, not all mice use the same drivers. Although the mouse may use mouse.exe it could also be "mouse.com" or "mouse.sys", which is loaded in the config.sys. |
| C:\DOS\SMARTDRV.EXE /X | Loads the smartdrive disk cache utility into memory. for additional information about this utility. |
| DOSKEY | Simple dos command to load DOSKEY into memory so when in DOS you can use it without having to load it. |
| CLS | MS-DOS command to clear screen. |
| WIN | Used for users using Windows 3.x, this line will load Windows automatically when booting the computer. |
Week 2: More DOS
| DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS | The Himem.sys line is a very important line; this line will allow you to load drivers into high memory. If this line is not present, Windows 3.x will not load. |
| DOS=HIGH,UMB | This line will load DOS into high memory in an upper memory block. Note the location usually best placed after the HIMEM.SYS. |
| DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS | The EMM386 line loads the extended memory manager, however note that some MS-DOS games have problems with extended memory and will not run without the NOEMS statement. |
| FILES=30 | The files line allow Windows to load 30 files at the same time. Usually, however, going higher may decrease the computer's performance; 30 is found to work the best. Also ensure that this line is all as one line and that there is not a space between and after the =. |
| STACKS=0,0 | The stacks line was first used in MS-DOS 3.2
and was used to swap the stack whenever an asynchronous hardware interrupt
occurred. Later in MS-DOS 3.3 the line STACKS=0,0 was added into the
config.sys. In special circumstances, this line was changed to STACKS=9,128.
The STACKS statement has a range of 8-64, 32-512. If a higher value is entered you will receive a FATAL : Internal Stack Failure, System Halted error message. |
| BUFFERS=20 | Buffers line is to load buffers into memory allowing Windows to load memory. |
| DEVICEHIGH=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\ANSI.SYS | The ansi.sys line is a driver for DOS to allow you to have different colors / sizes and special characters at the DOS prompt. |
| DEVICEHIGH=C:\MTMCDAI.SYS /D:123 | This line is the name of the CD-ROM driver on the particular system we are working on. The /D:123 represents the name of the driver, which in this case is named 123, however, can be named anything, usually MSCD0001. Note, however, that /D:123 must be exactly the same in config.sys and autoexec.bat; if they are different, the CD-ROM will not work in DOS. |
| LASTDRIVE= | Allows you to specify the last drive installed on the computer. It is not recommended this line be used unless you are using Windows 3.11 or below. This line can cause issues with Windows 95 & 98 and will generally be remarked by Windows automatically. |
| FCBS= | Line used to specify the number of file-control blocks for file sharing. This line should only be used when programs require it, and today, is generally not used or required. FCBS can utilize between 1 and 255. |
Hardware review; Hardware
Week 3
Operating Systems Computer Operating Systems
Week 4
Review Win98
Microsoft Windows 98 is the upgrade to Microsoft Win95. While this was not as big as release as Windows 95, Windows 98 has significant updates, fixes and support for new peripherals. Below is a list of some of its new features.
Protection - Windows 98 includes additional protection for
important files on your computer such as backing up your registry automatically.
Improved support - Improved support for new devices such as AGP,
DirectX, DVD, USB, MMX,
FAT32 - Windows 98 has the capability of converting your drive
to FAT32 without losing any information.
Interface - Users of Windows 95 and NT will enjoy the same easy
interface.
PnP - Improved PnP support, to detect devices even better than
Windows 95.
Internet Explorer 4.0 - Included Internet Explorer 4.0
Customizable Taskbar - Windows adds many nice new features to
the taskbar which 95 and NT do not have.
Includes Plus! - Includes features only found in Microsoft
Plus! free.
Active Desktop - Includes Active Desktop which allows for users
to customize their desktop with the look of the Internet.
WINDOWS 98 SE
Includes the same additional features as Windows 98; however, includes additional fixes and all of Year 2000 patches have been included in Windows 98 Second Edition. Below is a listing of the various new features Windows 98 SE includes.
Updates - Includes all the latest updates such as the Year
2000 updates, USB support, and more.
Software - Updated versions of Internet Explorer, Outlook
Express, Windows Media Player, DirectX, NetMeeting and more.
Drivers / Support - Additional support for latest technology
such as MMX, USB, Intel Pentium III and more.
Windows 98 Requirements
| Computer: | IBM or IBM Compatible |
| Processor: | 486DX/66 MHz or Higher processor |
| Memory: | 16 MB of RAM |
| Drives: | Approximately 195MB;free
disk space, can take up to 295MB free space CD-ROM or Floppy |
| Sound: | Standard Sound card for sound capability. |
| Video: | VGA or higher-resolution |
| Controls: | 100% compatible Microsoft keyboard / Mouse |
| Operating System: | Windows 3.x, 3.1x or Windows 95 to upgrade |
| DirectX: | Includes DirectX 5.0 |
Win98se Requirements
| Computer: | IBM or IBM Compatible |
| Processor: | 486DX/66 MHz or Higher processor |
| Memory: | 24 MB of RAM |
| Drives: | Approximately 205MB free
disk space; can take up to 315MB CD-ROM / DVD |
| Sound: | Standard Sound card for sound capability. |
| Video: | VGA or higher-resolution |
| Controls: | 100% compatible Microsoft ,mouse and keyboard |
| Operating System: | Windows 3.x, 3.1x or Windows 95 to upgrade |
| DirectX: | Includes DirectX 6.0 |
LESSON PLAN or Win-XP need other links go to SITE MAP