Installing MS-DOS over Emerson ROM DOS (75188)



The information in this article applies to:
    Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 5.0
    Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 5.0a
    Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.0
    Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.2
    Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.21
    Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.22

This article was previously published under Q75188

SYMPTOMS

Some Emerson computer systems are equipped with ROM DOS (the operating system is contained in the computer's read-only memory). Installing the MS- DOS 5 or later upgrade on these systems could cause the system to stop responding (hang) after it is rebooted.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem disable the system's ROM DOS.

MORE INFORMATION

Emerson systems with model numbers ending in V have an added sound feature that uses voice simulation to speak out DOS errors. This feature is written into the ROM DOS. If the ROM DOS is disabled and MS-DOS 5.0 or later is installed, the sound feature does not work.

The Emerson systems that use ROM DOS are as follows:

XT Class Machines

800ec

AT Class Machines

500ec V
516ec
4412ec
80386ec V
2000sc
3000sc

To work around this problem, you can disable the boot from ROM DOS and have the computer boot from disk. There is a different procedure for XT and or AT class machines. To disable the ROM DOS boot, do the following:

    If you have a XT class machine, press CTRL+ALT+ESC during startup.
    If you have a AT class machine, press CTRL+ALT+S during startup.
    This will bring you to the CMOS menu.
    Choose SETUP from the menu and press ENTER.
    On the right side of the screen there is an entry for the boot device. Highlight ROM and press F5 for next value or F6 for previous value (there are only two values so you can press either one to toggle to Disk).
    Press F10 to save the configuration.
    Reboot the system by pressing ESC three times.

Modification Type: Major Last Reviewed: 5/12/2003
Keywords: KB75188