MS-DOS 5.0a Upgrade README.TXT: Hardware Compatibility (85413)


The information in this article applies to:
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 5.0a
This article was previously published under Q85413

SUMMARY

The following information was taken from the Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0a Upgrade README.TXT file.

MORE INFORMATION

5. MAKING YOUR HARDWARE COMPATIBLE WITH MS-DOS 5.0

5.1 Acer 1100/33 and CTRL+ALT+DEL

If you have an Acer 1100/33 computer with an Award BIOS, you may not be able to restart your system by using CTRL+ALT+DEL. Contact Acer for a ROM BIOS upgrade.

5.2 Amstrad Systems and KEYB.COM

If your Amstrad system has a ROM BIOS version earlier than 1.4, and you can't use your keyboard after loading KEYB.COM, contact your vendor for a ROM BIOS upgrade.

5.3 Apricot Qi 386 Systems

If your Apricot Qi 300 fails to start while loading EMM386.EXE, contact Apricot for a ROM BIOS upgrade.

Some Apricot Qi660 and Qi900 computers may not work if MS- DOS 5.0 is loaded into the high memory area. Run MS-DOS 5.0 in conventional memory, or contact Apricot Computers for more information.

5.4 AT&T Computer with an VDC 750 Display Adapter Card

Before using the MS-DOS Shell Task Swapper on an AT&T computer with a VDC 750 display adapter card, remove the DEVICE=EGA.SYS command from your CONFIG.SYS file.

5.5 Compaq EXTDISK.SYS Driver

Compaq EXTDISK.SYS driver version 3.00 or later is compatible with MS-DOS 5.0. Contact your vendor for an upgrade.

5.6 Corel Corporation Disk Drivers

If your Corel Corporation disk driver doesn't work correctly, contact your vendor for an upgrade.

5.7 External Floppy Disk Drives

If you can't use your Nth, Procomm, or Sysgen external floppy disk drive, contact your vendor for an update.

5.8 Hardcard

    • Hardcard II

    If you can't use Plus Development Hardcard II or Hardcard II XL when running EMM386.EXE, specify the exclude (x=) switch to prevent EMM386 from conflicting with the card's BIOS address.

    See your Hardcard II manual to determine which address space to exclude. See the MS-DOS User's Guide and Reference for more information about the exclude switch.
    • Hardcard 40 or Passport

    If you are using Hardcard 40 or a Passport removable disk, and you have a DEVICE command for PLUSDRV.SYS in your CONFIG.SYS file before upgrading to MS-DOS 5.0:

      • Disable or remove the DEVICE command for PLUSDRV.SYS command line in your CONFIG.SYS file.
      • Run MS-DOS 5.0 Setup.
      • Reenable or return the DEVICE command for PLUSDRV.SYS in your CONFIG.SYS file. Make it the last line in the file.

5.9 IBM PS/1, installing MS-DOS 5.0

If your IBM PS/1 stops running after MS-DOS version 5.0 is installed, do the following:
    • Press and hold down both mouse buttons.
    • Start your PS/1.
    The computer displays the System menu.
    • From the System menu, choose the Your Software icon.
    A group of folders appears.
    • Choose the DOS folder.
    A list of the files in your DOS folder appears.
    • Double-click the CUSTOMIZ file.
    The How System Starts screen appears.
    • Use the DOWN ARROW key to select the Try Diskette First, Then Try Fixed Disk option.
    • Press the SPACEBAR to choose the option.
    • Use the DOWN ARROW key to select the Read CONFIG.SYS option.
    • Use the RIGHT ARROW key to select the From Disk option.
    • Press the SPACEBAR to choose the option.
    • Use the DOWN ARROW key to select the Read AUTOEXEC.BAT option.
    • Use the RIGHT ARROW key to select the From Disk option.
    • Press the SPACEBAR to choose the option.
    • Press enter to save the system startup changes.
    • Restart your computer by pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL.

5.10 NCR VGA BIOS

If you have an NCR VGA BIOS and can't switch between screens when running MS-DOS Shell or QBasic, see your NCR manual for information about making your VGA BIOS PS/2 compatible.

5.11 Olivetti System with a CGA Video Board

An Olivetti system with a CGA video board may not scroll correctly. Add the /s switch to the DEVICE=ANSI.SYS command in your CONFIG.SYS file.

5.12 Toshiba T3100SX

Toshiba T3100SX computer's suspend/resume feature is incompatible with EMM386.EXE. Either disable the feature or do not use EMM386.EXE.

5.13 Western Digital VGA Card

If you have a Western Digital VGA card and are using RAMBIOS.EXE and RAMBIOS.SYS, load RAMBIOS.SYS before ANSI.SYS and DISPLAY.SYS in your CONFIG.SYS file, and RAMBIOS.EXE before GRAPHICS.COM in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

5.14 ATI WonderCard 3.x

Using MS-DOS 5.0 with an ATI WonderCard may cause the lower part of your display to be truncated. To solve this problem, type the following command before running Setup:

SMS EGABIOS

Or obtain an updated ROM BIOS for the card.

5.15 XGA and EMM386.EXE

If you use an XGA display with EMM386.EXE, you may need to exclude certain memory ranges with the EMM386 EXCLUDE option (x=). To determine which memory ranges to exclude, use the reference disk that came with your computer to view the memory map.

5.16 Zenith Computer

To use the GRAPHICS command with a Zenith computer, set the STACKS command in your CONFIG.SYS file to at least STACKS=9,256. For information about the STACKS command, see Chapter 14 of the MS-DOS User's Guide and Reference.

5.17 Zeos 486 and Task Swapper

If you have a Zeos 486 computer with a Mylex BIOS, you may not be able to use Task Swapper in MS-DOS Shell. Contact Zeos for a ROM BIOS upgrade.
Modification Type: Major Last Reviewed: 9/30/2003
Keywords: KB85413
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.