Lists drivers and modules windows uses to configure itself when you load it.
286grabber
(S,,) Filename of the device driver windows uses to display non-windows apps when running in standard mode.
386grabber
(S,,) Filename of the device driver windows uses to display non-windows apps when running in 386 enhanced mode.
CachedFileHandles
(#,2-12,12) Number of most recently used EXE and DLL files that can remain open. You may need to lower this number if your network limits the number of open files on the server.
comm.drv
(S,,) Filename of the serial communications driver windows is using.
display.drv
(S,,) Filename of the display driver windows is using.
drivers
(S,,) Filenames of the installable drivers to be loaded when windows starts.
fixedfon.fon
(S,,) Filename of the fixed-width system font windows uses for windows 2.x applications.
fonts.fon
(S,,) Filename of the proportionally spaced font windows 3.1 uses.
keyboard.drv
(S,,) Name of the keyboard driver windows is using.
language.dll
(S,,) Filename of the DLL that contains language-specific information. Can also be changed thru International icon in Control Panel.
mouse.drv
(S,,) Filename of the mouse driver windows is using.
network.drv
(S,,) Filename of the network driver windows is using.
oemfonts.fon
(S,,) Font filename of the OEM character set font associated with the display setting.
shell
(S,,) Filename of the windows shell program windows will use when it starts. Windows will use PROGMAN.EXE if this entry is blank.
sound.drv
(S,,) Filename of the system sound driver windows is using.
system.drv
(S,,) Filename of the system hardware driver windows is using.
Taskman.Exe
(S,,TASKMAN.EXE) Filename of the task-switching application that appears when you press CTRL+ESC.
boot.description]
Contains a list of devices you can change when you run setup.
drivers]
Contains a list of aliases assigned to driver files.
keyboard]
Use windows setup or the International icon from Control Panel to change these values.
mci]
Use the Drivers icon from Control Panel to change these settings.
NonWindowsApp]
Contains settings related to the operation and performance of non-windows applications.
CommandEnvSize
(#,0-32768,) Specifies the size of the COMMAND.COM environment. Specify 0 to disable, or a value between 160 and 32768. PIF settings will override this setting.
DisablePositionSave
(B,0-1,0) 0 will save the position, size and font of a non-windows app in DOSAPP.INI when you quit the application. 1 disables the saving.
FontChangeEnable
(B,0-1,1) 0 will not permit the changing of fonts for non-windows applications in a window, when using the windows 3.0 grabbers.
GlobalHeapSize
(#,,0) Size of the buffer in conventional memory used by non-windows applications running in standard mode. You should never need to change this setting.
LocalTSRs
(S,,dosedit, pced, ced) List of Terminate and Stay Resident (TSR) programs which work if copied to each instance of a virtual machine.
MouseInDOSBox
(B,0-1,) Specifies whether the mouse is supported when running non-windows apps in a window, and you are using the windows 3.0 grabbers. You need to load a DOS mouse driver also.
NetASynchSwitching
(B,0-1,0) 1 will permit you to switch away from an application running in standard mode after it has made an asynchronous network BIOS call. 0 disables such switching.
ScreenLines
(#,,25) Number of screen lines displayed in a non-windows application. Some applications may override this settings.
SwapDisk
(S,,) Path where windows swaps non-windows applications. Default is the directory pointed to by the TEMP variable.
standard]
Entries specific to running windows in standard mode.
FasterModeSwitch
(B,0-1,0) 1 enables 80286 computers to use a faster mode of switching from real to protected mode. Some AT compatibles hang with this set to 1.
Int28Filter
(#,,10) Specifies the percentage of INT28h interrupts that are visible to software loaded before windows. Increasing this value may increase performance, but may interfere with some TSR software.
MouseSyncTime
(#,,500) Number of milliseconds that can elapse before windows assumes a PS/2 mouse data packet is complete.
NetHeapSize
(#,,8) Number of kilobytes in conventional memory for data transfer buffers with a network.
PadCodeSegments
(B,0-1,0) Prevents instructions from being too close to the end of a segment in 80286 C2 stepping. Change to 1 if your 80286 hangs in standard mode.
Stacks
(#,8-64,12) Number of interrupt reflector stacks to map a DOS or BIOS API from real to protected mode. Increase if you get 'Standard mode: stack overflow' errors.
StackSize
(#,,384) Size of the interrupt reflector stacks. You should not need to change this value.
386enh]
Entries specific to running windows in 386 Enhanced mode
32BitDiskAccess
(B,on-off,off) On turns 32-bit disk access on. You should change this entry from the 386 Enhanced icon in Control Panel.
A20EnableCount
(#,,) Specifies the initial A20 enable count, which identifies the A20 handler HIMEM.SYS uses.
AllEMSLocked
(B,on-off,off) On locks the contents of all expanded memory used by windows and non-windows applications. This entry overrides any PIF settings.
AllVMsExclusive
(B,on-off,off) On forces all non-windows applications to run in full-screen mode, overriding PIF settings. Set to On to avoid UAEs with network and TSR sofware incompatible with windows.
AllXMSLocked
(B,on-off,off) On locks the contents of all extended memory used by windows and non-windows applications. You should not need to change this setting.
AltKeyDelay
(#,,.005) Specifies how long windows waits to process a keyboard interrupt after an ALT interrupt.
AltPasteDelay
(#,,.025) How long windows waits to paste characters after the ALT key has been pressed.
AutoRestoreScreen
(B,on-off,on) When on, windows will restore the display of non-windows apps. Off saves some memory, but can slow performance.
BkGndNotifyAtPFault
(B,on-off,on) When on, windows sends notification to non-windows or windows applications to prevent the application from accessing the display. Set to off for 8514 and TIGA displays.
CGA40WOA.FON
(S,,) Fixed-pitch font filename for non-windows applications using 40 columns and 25 or fewer lines.
CGA80WOA.FON
(S,,) Fixed-pitch font filename for non-windows applications using 80 columns and 25 or fewer lines.
CGANoSnow
(B,on-off,off) When on, avoids snow effect on CGA displays.
COM1AutoAssign
(#,-1000,2) Device contention settings, -1 will allways warn, 0 will never warn, 1-1000 is number of seconds after device becomes free. Choose 386 Enhanced icon from control Panel to change.
COM2AutoAssign
(#,-1000,2) Device contention settings, -1 will allways warn, 0 will never warn, 1-1000 is number of seconds after device becomes free. Choose 386 Enhanced icon from control Panel to change.
COM3AutoAssign
(#,-1000,2) Device contention settings, -1 will allways warn, 0 will never warn, 1-1000 is number of seconds after device becomes free. Choose 386 Enhanced icon from control Panel to change.
COM4AutoAssign
(#,-1000,2) Device contention settings, -1 will allways warn, 0 will never warn, 1-1000 is number of seconds after device becomes free. Choose 386 Enhanced icon from control Panel to change.
COMBoostTime
(#,,2) Number of milliseconds to allow a virtual machine to process a COM interrupt.
COM1Buffer
(#,,128) Number of characters buffered for the corresponding COM port. See COM1Protocol before changing this value.
COM2Buffer
(#,,128) Number of characters buffered for the corresponding COM port. See COM2Protocol before changing this value.
COM3Buffer
(#,,128) Number of characters buffered for the corresponding COM port. See COM3Protocol before changing this value.
COM4Buffer
(#,,128) Number of characters buffered for the corresponding COM port. See COM4Protocol before changing this value.
COMdrv30
(B,on-off,off) Set to On if using windows 3.0 serial communications driver.
COM1FIFO
(B,on-off,on) On enables the FIFO buffer of the COM port's 16550 UART, if present.
COM2FIFO
(B,on-off,on) On enables the FIFO buffer of the COM port's 16550 UART, if present.
COM3FIFO
(B,on-off,on) On enables the FIFO buffer of the COM port's 16550 UART, if present.
COM4FIFO
(B,on-off,on) On enables the FIFO buffer of the COM port's 16550 UART, if present.
COM1Irq
(#,,4) Sets the interrupt request (IRQ) line used for this COM port. -1 disables input for this COM port. Can also be changed thru Ports icon (advanced button) in Control Panel.
COM2Irq
(#,,3) Sets the interrupt request (IRQ) line used for this COM port. -1 disables input for this COM port. Can also be changed thru Ports icon (advanced button) in Control Panel.
COM3Irq
(#,,4) Sets the interrupt request (IRQ) line used for this COM port. -1 disables input for this COM port. Default is 3 for MCA machines. Can also be changed thru Ports icon (advanced button) in Control Panel.
COM4Irq
(#,,3) Sets the interrupt request (IRQ) line used for this COM port. -1 disables input for this COM port. Can also be changed thru Ports icon (advanced button) in Control Panel.
COMIrqSharing
(B,on-off,off) On permits COM ports and other devices to share IRQs. Default is on for MCA machines.
COM1Protocol
(S,,) Change to XOFF if characters are being lost in high speed COM port text transfers, leave blank otherwise. Increase COMxBuffer value if still losing characters.
COM2Protocol
(S,,) Change to XOFF if characters are being lost in high speed COM port text transfers, leave blank otherwise. Increase COMxBuffer value if still losing characters.
COM3Protocol
(S,,) Change to XOFF if characters are being lost in high speed COM port text transfers, leave blank otherwise. Increase COMxBuffer value if still losing characters.
COM4Protocol
(S,,) Change to XOFF if characters are being lost in high speed COM port text transfers, leave blank otherwise. Increase COMxBuffer value if still losing characters.
DMABufferIn1MB
(B,on-off,off) On places the DMA buffer in the 1st MB of memory for compatibility with 8-bit bus master cards.
DMABufferSize
(#,,16) Number of kilobytes allocated to Direct Memory Access(DMA) transfers.
DOSPromptExitInstruc
(B,on-off,on) Off will not display the instructions on how to switch from and exit the MS-DOS prompt when you start a DOS prompt.
DualDisplay
(B,on-off,) With this set On, monochrome memory area will be left unused, available to display adapters, or as UMB's for EMM386. If off, windows will use this memory.
EGA40WOA.FON
(S,,) Fixed-pitch font filename for non-windows applications using 40 columns and more than 25 lines.
EGA80WOA.FON
(S,,) Fixed-pitch font filename for non-windows applications using 80 columns and more than 25 lines.
EMMExclude
(S,A000-EFFF,) Specifies the area (in hexadecimal) that windows will ignore when scanning for available memory. Format is HEXVal-HEXVal.
EMMInclude
(S,A000-EFFF,) Specifies the area (in hexadecimal) that windows will scan for available memory. Format is HEXVal-HEXVal.
EMMPageFrame
(S,,) Specifies the starting address of 64K page frame when windows cannot find a suitable address itself. Format is HEXVal (like C400).
EMMSize
(#,,65536) Number of kilobytes to be mapped as expanded memory. Set to 0 and change NoEMMDriver=on to disable Expanded memory entirely.
FileSysChange
(B,on-off,on) On will slow down performance, since File Manager has to be notified when a non-windows app creates, deletes or renames a file. Default is off for standard more, on for 386enh.
Global
(S,,) Defines devices loaded in CONFIG.SYS that need to be global. Device name must match EXACTLY, including case, with name in CONFIG.SYS.
HardDiskDMABuffer
(#,,) Number of kilobytes used for DMA buffer. Default is 0 for AT machines, 64 for MCA and machines using DMA 3, unless SMARTDRV double buffering is used, then 0.
IdleVMWakeUpTime
(#,,8) Forces timer interrupts to occur after specified number of seconds to 'wake up' idle virtual machines. Value is rounded to lowest power of 2 (1,2,4,8,16,32,64).
IgnoreInstalledEMM
(B,on-off,off) If set to on, windows will be able to start in 386 enhanced mode even if there is an unknown expanded memory manager running.
InDOSPolling
(B,on-off,off) When on, prevents windows from running other applications when TSR software has the InDOS flag set. On will slow down performance slightly.
INT28Critical
(B,on-off,on) Specifies whether a critical section is needed to handle INT 28h interrupts by TSR software. Off may improve task switching.
IRQ9Global
(B,on-off,off) Set to on to make IRQ9 masks global, or if your system hangs when accessing the floppy drive.
KeyBoostTime
(#,,.001) Specifies the number of seconds an application gets in increased priority when it receives a keystroke. Increase this value to make keyboard input more responsive.
KeyBufferDelay
(#,,.2) Time, in seconds, to delay pasting keyboard input after the keyboard buffer is filled.
KeyIdleDelay
(#,,.5) Specifies how many seconds windows ignores idle calls after simulating a keystroke into a virtual machine.
KeyPasteCRSkipCount
(#,,10) Number of times to skip an INT16 after pasting a carriage return to the keyboard buffer. Increase if you lose characters pasting into an application.
KeyPasteTimeout
(#,,1) Number of seconds that can elapse to allow an application to read the keyboard before windows changes from fast to slow paste.
KydbPasswd
(B,on-off,off) On provides support for the PS/2 8042 Virtual Keyboard Device commands for password security. Default is On for PS/2 machines.
KybdReboot
(B,on-off,on) When on, windows uses a keyboard controller command to reboot the computer. If your computer hangs when rebooting, change this setting to off.
Local
(S,,CON) Defines DOS drivers that need to be local to each virtual machine.
LocalLoadHigh
(B,on-off,off) When off, windows uses all of the upper memory blocks, leaving none free for virtual machines. Set to on to make UMB's available to DOS sessions.
LocalReboot
(B,on-off,on) When on, CTRL+ALT+DELETE will quit an application that is hung in 386 enhanced mode. Set to off, CTRL+ALT+DELETE will reboot your machine.
MapPHysAddress
(#,,) Specifies the megabyte range where windows stores physical page table entries and linear address space.
MaxBPs
(#,,200) Maximum number of break points used by the VMM. Increase if using a third party memory manager that needs more break points.
MaxComPort
(#,,4) Specifies the maximum number of COM ports supported in 386 enhanced mode.
MaxDMAPGAddress
(S,,0FFFh) Maximum physical page address that can be used by the DMA. Default for EISA machines is 0FFFFFh.
MaxPagingFileSize
(#,,) Sets maximum size of the temporary swap file. Default is 50% of available disk space. Can also be changed thru 386 Enhanced icon in Control Panel.
MaxPhysPage
(S,,) Maximum physical page number that the VMM can use. This is useful since some ISA DMA network cards can't address beyond 16MB, so you would reduce this number.
MCADMA
(B,on-off,off) On will allow windows to use Micro Channel Architecture DMA extensions. Default is on for MCA machines.
MessageBackColor
(#,1-16,1) Specifies the background color of message screens, like the one when you press CTRL+ALT+DELETE. Entry is a VGA color attribute.
MessageTextColor
(#,1-16,1) Specifies the foreground color of message screens, like the one when you press CTRL+ALT+DELETE. Entry is a VGA color attribute.
MinTimeSlice
(#,,20) Minimum number of milliseconds a virtual machine can run before switching to another virtual machine. Lowering this value makes multi-tasking appear smoother, but degrades performance. Also change thru 386Enhanced icon in Control Panel.
MinUserDiskSpace
(#,,500) Specifies the number of kilobytes to leave free on your hard disk when windows creates a temporary swap file.
MouseSoftInit
(B,on-off,on) On will convert hard mouse init calls to soft ones. Set to off if cursor and screen appear distorted, which will also prevents using the mouse in non-windows apps in a window.
NetASynchFallback
(B,of-off,off) When set to on windows will try to save failing NetBIOS attempts
NetASynchTimeout
(#,,5.0) Specifies the timeout period when windows needs to enter a critical section for a NetBIOS request. Only used when NetASynchFallback is set.
NetDMASize
(#,,0) Size, in kilobytes, of the NetBIOS DMA buffer. Default is 32 on MCA machines.
NetHeapSize
(#,,12) Size, in 4K increments, of the data transfer buffers allocated in conventional memory by 386 enhanced mode for network data transfers.
NMIReboot
(B,on-off,off) When on, your machine will reboot when it receives a Non Maskable Interrupt.
NoEMMDriver
(B,on-off,off) Set to off to disable the Expanded memory manager, if you don't need to provide expanded memory to DOS apps. See EMMSize
NoWaitNetIO
(B,on-off,on) On will convert synchronous NetBIOS commands to asynchronous.
OverlappedIO
(B,on-off,on) On allows several virtual machines to make disk requests before the first request has been completed. Default is off if InDOSPolling=on. You shouldn't need to change this setting.
PageBuffers
(#,0-32,4) Number of 4K page buffers used for asynchronous read and write pages. Only used with 32-bit disk access and a permanent swap file.
PageOverCommit
(#,1-20,4) Multiplier that determines the amount of linear address space created by the VMM. Increasing this increases linear address space, but can slow down the system.
Paging
(B,on-off,on) On permits the use of a temporary swap file.
PagingDrive
(S,,) Disk drive where windows will allocate a temporary swap file. Ignored if using a permanent swap file.
PagingFile
(S,,windows\win386.swp) Path and filename of the temporary swap file. Overrides the PagingDrive setting.
PerformBackfill
(B,on-off,on) On will allocate a full 640K conventional memory to a system with less than 640K physical conventional memory.
PermSwapDOSDrive
(S,,) Disk drive where the Permanent swap file is located. Can also be changed thru 386 Enhanced icon in Control Panel.
PermSwapSizeK
(S,,) Number of kilobytes for the Permanent swap file. Can also be changed thru 386 Enhanced icon in Control Panel.
PerVMFILES
(#,,10) Number of private file handles allocated to each virtual machine.
PSPIncrement
(#,2-64,2) Amount of additional memory, in 16-byte increments, reserved in each successive virtual machine when UniqueDOSPSP=on.
ReflectDOSINT2A
(B,on-off,off) Off will consume INT 2A signals and run more efficiently. Set to on if TSR software you are running relies on detecting INT 2A messages.
ReservedHighArea
(S,A000-EFFF,) Hex paragraph values separated by a hyphen then windows will NOT scan for unused space.
ReservePageFrame
(B,on-off,on) On preserves the EMS page frame at the expense of conventional memory. Set to off if non-windows apps don't use expanded memory to free more conventional memory.
ReserveVideoROM
(B,on-off,off) On tells windows that video ROM exists between pages C6 and C7. You should not need to change this setting.
SGrabLPT
(#,1-4,) Routes all printer interrupts on the specified port to the system virtual machine vice the current virtual machine.
SyncTime
(B,on-off,on) On will tell windows to periodically sync its time with the system clock.
SystemROMBreakPoint
(B,on-off,off) On will use the memory between F000 and 1MB for a break point. QEMM and 386MAX require this setting off.
SysVMEMSLimit
(#,,2048) Maximum number of kilobytes of Expanded memory windows can use. 0 disables expanded memory, -1 gives all available.
SysVMEMSLocked
(B,on-off,off) On permits swapping expanded memory of non-windows applications to the hard disk.
SysVMEMSRequired
(#,,0) How much expanded memory must be free to start windows.
SysVMV86Locked
(B,on-off,off) On prevents virtual-mode memory used by the system virtual machine from being swapped to the hard disk.
SysVMXMSLimit
(#,,2048) Maximum number of kilobytes of extended memory windows can use. 0 disables extended memory, -1 gives all available.
SysVMXMSRequired
(#,,0) How much extended memory must be free to start windows.
TimerCriticalSection
(#,,0) A positive value causes windows to go to a critical section around all timer interrupt code, which may make your machine sluggish or less responsive. Some networks require this set.
TokenRingSearch
(B,on-off,on) On tells windows to search for a token ring network adapter on AT machines.
TranslateScans
(B,on-off,off) On translates the keyboard's scan codes to make them compatible with IBM scan codes.
TrapTimerPorts
(B,on-off,on) Off allows applications to access the timer port. Set to off if time appears to be fast or slow.
UniqueDOSPSP
(B,on-off,on) On tells windows to start each application at a unique address. Setting to off may cause problems with non MS-NET networks. Default is on for MS-NET networks.
UseableHighArea
(S,A000-EFFF,) Hex paragraph range windows will scan for free memory. Takes precedence over ReservedHighArea.
UseInstFile
(B,on-off,off) On tells windows to use the INSTANCE.386 file for info on determining if MS-DOS data structures need to be local.
UseROMFont
(B,on-off,on) When on, windows uses the font in video ROM for messages in non-windows apps. Set to off if font is wrong or garbage appears on screen.
VGAMonoText
(B,on-off,on) When off, windows ignores the monochrome address space, making the B000-B7FF range available in upper memory if a hardware device isn't using it.
VideoBackgroundMsg
(B,on-off,on) On displays a message when a background application is suspended or if video memory is low.
VideoSuspendDisable
(B,on-off,off) On will suspend an application in the background if its display becomes corrupted.
VirtualHDIrq
(B,on-off,on) On allows windows in 386 enhanced mode to terminate interrupts from the hard disk controller, speeding disk access. Some drives need this set to off.
WindowKBRequired
(#,,256) Number of kilobytes of conventional memory free required to start windows.
WindowMemSize
(#,,-1) Limits the number of kilobytes of conventional memory windows can use for itself. -1 means unlimited.
WindowUpdateTime
(#,,50) Number of milliseconds between updates of non-windows applications in a window.
WinExclusive
(B,on-off,off) On will allocate all of the CPU's time to a windows application running in the foreground. Can also be changed thru 386 Enhanced icon in Control Panel.
WinTimeSlice
(S,1-10000,100,50) Two numbers separated by a comma. First is relative CPU time given to windows apps in the foreground, second is relative background CPU time. Can also be changed thru 386 Enhanced icon in Control Panel.
WOAFont
(S,,DOSAPP.FON) Font Filename of font loaded into memory when using non-windows applications.
XLatBufferSize
(#,,8) Number of kilobytes used to map DOS calls from protected to 386 enhanced mode. Some networks may need this set to 4.
