Hi MedEvil & all,
As Requested the information you requested, I have restored the 32Bit dos onto my old PC (Albeit it wasn't the PC I thought it was on Hey Ho!) Anyway, "I think" this is the reduced previous "
fileset".
Here is some general info:
I have included the file ATTRIB.EXE file from C:\Windows\Command as it proves useful for uncovering the attributes of SYSTEM.DAT & USER.DAT as these are hidden/read only files. The specified details of these files are that they are necessary for command line 32bit DOS (Well SYSTEM.DAT is anyways). I created these, by as previously posted, creating a clean partition (C:\) using my 98SE CD (98SE Vers 4.10.2222) at the 1st reboot prompt, I removed the 98SE cd, then loaded a 98se boot disk, navigated to C:\Windows, -r -a -s -h attribed system.dat & user.dat, copied these to D:\ partition for storage, why? well to create a mini Registry, which as far as I can remember didn't ask for the 98SE install CD Key & they are of the following size on my system. I then removed the stuff up to the first reboot & created the folder structure as described below:
C:\Windows\System.dat = 20,512 bytes (Usual size over after fresh install in excess of 2Mb's)
C:\Windows\User.dat = 12,288 bytes (Sorry! Cannot remember the usual size after fresh install)
You probably could write a script that would auto build the system.dat & user.dat details if you constructed a mini reg as previously stated for the 32bit dos process to work?
Another by the side, bit of info is that the 98SE logo flashes on quickly then disapears (I never removed this) Also to prove that windows is running 32bit command line you can confirm with:
Navigate to C:\Windows folder with CD etc then type Win.com & the following error message is spewed right bach at you - "You are already running Windows" &
- press Alt+Enter to switch this MS-dos Prompt between windowed & full screen display.
- Type Exit & press Enter to quit this Ms-Dos prompt & return to windows.
- Press Alt+Tab to switch to windows or another application.
You must appreciate you cannot switch to windows cuz this is a standalone 32bit system & typing Exit+Enter did not work for me I used a util called Poweroff.exe which did a dirty close down (Cannot remember where I got it from But could find again if you need it?).
The mist is clearing a bit because I remember to a certain degree what I did:
To make this a "standalone" commandline 32bit system I used a progey called LCOPY.EXE (Part of ODI's DOS LFN Tools) To create a complete folder structure with "NO" files within (Cannot remember the syntax sorry). The complete folder structure of Windows 98SE but every folder is empty inc the root C:\ I imported all the necessary files inc System.dat & Use.dat (MINI) from D:\Partition & without further ado I will list the principle file structure I created & is as follows:
I will NOT list every folder as there are 2 many! (402)
Total files Listed:
59 File(s) 4,933,895 bytes (Total size but it could be smaller - 5Mb's)
402 Dir(s) 5,130.91Mb ..........(My partition C:\)
Root C:\Command.com, Io.sys, Msdos.sys & ATTRIB.EXE........ (From Command Dir)
[Overview Folders - My Documents, Program files, & Windows]
C:\Windows (Files):Wnbootng.sts, POWEROFF.EXE (Used to close the sucker down Exit doesn't work), Himem.sys Ifshlp.sys, System.ini, Winboot.ini, Win.com, Win.ini Ios.log, System.dat (Mini) User.dat (Mini) Win386.swp (Swap File).
C:\Windows\System (Files):Cp_437.nls, Comm.drv, Cp_1252.nls, Advapi32.dll, Ddeml.dll, Kernel32.dll, Keyboard.drv, User.exe, Locale.nls, Mmsound.drv, Mouse.drv, Mpr.dll, Mpr.exe, Mprserv.dll, Msgsrv32.exe, Mspwl32.dll, Shell.dll, System.drv, Unicode.nls, User32.dll, Shell32.dll, Vga.drv, Vmm32.vxd, Krnl386.exe Krnl386.win.
C:\Windows\System\IosubsysEsdi_506.pdr, Atapchng.vxd, Bigmem.drv, Cdfs.vxd, Cdtsd.vxd, Cdvsd.vxd, Disktsd.vxd, Diskvsd.vxd, Apix.vxd, Hsflop.pdr, Necatapi.vxd, Rmm.pdr, Scsihlp.vxd, Scsiport.pdr, Torisan3.vxd, Voltrack.vxd
C:\Windows\System\Vmm32Ifsmgr.vxd, Ios.vxd, Qemmfix.vxd
Please be aware that within the following folders C:\Windows\System\Iosubsys & C:\Windows\System\Vmm32 the fileset will vary dependant on the drivers that 98SE deams necessary to run Windows 98SE or 32bit dos as proposed above. So the contents of your folder will be different to mine possibly.
You can use 4DOS instead of command.com but I never used it
The command Prompt is displayed like this "C>" with a full black screen
I'm sure you could trim this sucker down still further as it is truly a mini windows system.
Compatability issues were found with many 32bit Dos utils they had difficulty in loading & other users say that it is 2 much of a "faf" to set up & they have used DOSLFN in dos to acquire LFN support. you don't have to run it from a standalone situation, a simple switching batch file with a shortcut on your desktop would enable you to shut down & reboot to either a full windows 98SE system or the 32bit Dos system for Recovery, backup or for what ever other reason you may deem necessary
Wonder if it could be run from a ramdisk, just a thought?
Anyway I think that is everything, sorry for the cryptic layout, poor spelling, long winded outline & I'm not going to dare say this is the correct way of making a 32Bit Standalone Dos system, but I will say it worked for me!
hope it helps MedEvil, good luck guys
Regards,
ispy