Basic Microsoft DOS troubleshooting.

Issue:

Basic Microsoft DOS troubleshooting.

Additional Information:

This document has been created as a location of general steps that can be taken to help you with problems you may be experiencing with Microsoft DOS that are either general problems. Users who also have Microsoft Windows on their computer should refer to the basic trouble shooting document for Windows instead of following the directions on this page, see our basic troubleshooting page for links to the appropriate document.

Below are some reasons why a user may follow the steps in this document.

1. Unknown or undocumented problem with computer running Microsoft DOS.
2. Performance issues with the computer, i.e. computer running slow.
3. Users who wish to run a maintenance on the computer or potentially speed up the computer.
4. Users looking for steps to help resolve a issue or that may help in locating the cause of an issue.

Solutions:

Error messages encountered during boot

1. Ensure that your computer BIOS settings are correctly configured to the hardware that is installed in your computer. Improper settings in the BIOS may cause various types of errors when first booting a IBM compatible computer. These errors often occur as the computer is first booting and may stop the load process of the computer.
2. Errors that are encountered during boot are commonly due to a ms-configuration with your autoexec.bat or config.sys. We recommend that you edit your autoexec.bat and/or config.sys and look for any abnormalities. 

Other error messages

If you are experiencing other error messages it is likely these errors are being caused by the software program you are running and/or a hardware device you are attempting to utilize it is recommended you see the basic trouble shooting section for your hardware device or software program. 

Computer running slow

1. Make sure your autoexec.bat and config.sys are optimized. Changing the way  programs load into memory, removing lines that are not necessary, and changing the order of lines in your config.sys can all help with improving the speed of your computer. 
2. Make sure your computer has at least 50MB of hard disk drive space. If your computer has less then 50MB it may cause the computer to operate more slowly.
3. Run Microsoft Scandisk and Defrag on the computer. 
4. From the MS-DOS prompt C:\> type chkdsk /f, if this gives you a bad command or file name type cd\dos and press enter to get into the DOS prompt and try it again.
5. Delete all the temporary files and any scandisk error files. From the MS- DOS prompt C:\> type del *.tmp to delete all temporary files, also type del *.chk. Once the files have been deleted type cd\dos to get into the DOS directory and delete the *.tmp and *.chk files like was done earlier.
6. Ensure your computer has the latest drivers for the hardware devices installed in your computer.

Issue with hardware device

If you are having difficulties with a hardware device please see our basic trouble shooting section for steps that can be taken to help resolve your hardware issues.