Disappearing items in autoexec.bat

[nibor]

I have Windows 98SE but still use some DOS programs (SuperCalc 5.5 and Word Perfect 5.1) through Windows, i.e. not in MS-DOS mode. Presently in Windows I have UK keyboard, but in the DOS programs the keyboard seems to be US - " comes out as @ and vice versa. I tried amending the autoexec.bat to add the necessary instructions for UK keyboard. I did this in Notepad, saved it, exited from Notepad, then opened it and checked the amendments were correct. But when I rebooted the computer my new instructions had disappeared and the autoexec.bat was as if I'd never altered it. How on earth can this be?


Nibor

 

[kimmer13]

To edit the autoexec.bat file you want to click on Start/Run and type
sysedit and click OK. It will open all the system startup files in a cascade.

**However, if the only time your keyboard is 'misbehaving' is in these DOS programs, I think you should right-click on the shortcut for the program, go to Properties, the Program Tab, and choose MS-DOS mode, and then create an autoexec.bat file for that program's use. Just my opinion....

Good luck!

 

[nibor]

Thanks for your reply, Kimmer13. I could do your 2nd option, but that would mean running the programs in MS-DOS mode, but I'm keen to continue running them through a window so that I can switch between them and other Windows programs. I haven't had any trouble with this before.

I tried your first option and at sysedit the files came up in a cascade, just as you said, all except autoexec.bat; this message appeared: "cannot open c:\autoexec.bat. No explanation was given.

Nibor