Hi all,

I'm pretty dense when it comes to loading dos drivers etc. I have a Compaq Presario 5BW284 with win 98 loaded. I have an ESS Allegro VDM on board sound card.

I'm trying to create a DOS startup disk to be able to play older DOS Games and have made a startup disk using win 98 and when I look at the autoexec.bat and config.sys files I am very confused.

Is there anyway someone could look at my files (I'm attaching them) and show me how to modify them to create a basic boot disk that would load my CD Rom's and sound driver? As best I can tell my sound driver is Es198x.sys and I copied it to my floppy.

Thanks in advance for any help.



Some sound cards do not have DOS drivers. Some older cards/chips will work, but many of the newer ones will never work in true DOS.

So you need to start with doing a GOOGLE search for the specific sound card and DOS drivers.

You can also go to driverguide.com and check. Registration is free.

The search should be for the acutal sound card. If there is an FCC ID# imprinted on it, use that. THe .sys file is of no use in a search.After you have checked for DOS drivers for that card then post your autoexec and config.sys files for editing help...

patio. 8-)I have the autoexec.bat and config.sys attacched in the first post but I'll list it here. This allows me to access my CD Rom's but it really is a win 98 startup disk. I don't know if the sound driver is loaded and can't figure out which of the myriad of sound drivers I find on the internet are for my ESS Allegro WDM sound card or how to list any on the autoexec.bat.

AUTOEXEC.BAT
@ECHO OFF
set EXPAND=YES
SET DIRCMD=/O:N
set LglDrv=27 * 26 Z 25 Y 24 X 23 W 22 V 21 U 20 T 19 S 18 R 17 Q 16 P 15
set LglDrv=%LglDrv% O 14 N 13 M 12 L 11 K 10 J 9 I 8 H 7 G 6 F 5 E 4 D 3 C
cls
call setramd.bat %LglDrv%
set temp=c:\
set tmp=c:\
path=%RAMD%:\;a:\;%CDROM%:\
COPY command.com %RAMD%:\ > NUL
set comspec=%RAMD%:\command.com
copy extract.exe %RAMD%:\ > NUL
copy readme.txt %RAMD%:\ > NUL

:ERROR
IF EXIST ebd.cab GOTO EXT
echo Please insert Windows 98 Startup Disk 2
echo.
pause
GOTO ERROR

:EXT
%RAMD%:\extract /y /e /l %RAMD%: ebd.cab > NUL
echo The diagnostic tools were successfully loaded to drive %RAMD%.
echo.

IF "%config%"=="NOCD" GOTO QUIT
IF "%config%"=="HELP" GOTO HELP
LH %ramd%:\MSCDEX.EXE /D:mscd001 /L:%CDROM%
echo.
GOTO QUIT

:HELP
cls
call help.bat
echo Your computer will now restart and the startup menu will appear.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
echo.
restart.com
GOTO QUIT

:QUIT
echo To get help, type HELP and press ENTER.
echo.
rem clean up environment variables
set CDROM=
set LglDrv=

CONFIG.SYS

[menu]
menuitem=CD, Start computer with CD-ROM support.
menuitem=NOCD, Start computer without CD-ROM support.
menuitem=HELP, View the Help file.
menudefault=CD,30
menucolor=7,0

[CD]
device=himem.sys /testmem:off
device=oakcdrom.sys /D:mscd001
device=btdosm.sys
device=flashpt.sys
device=btcdrom.sys /D:mscd001
device=aspi2dos.sys
device=aspi8dos.sys
device=aspi4dos.sys
device=aspi8u2.sys
device=aspicd.sys /D:mscd001

[NOCD]
device=himem.sys /testmem:off

[HELP]
device=himem.sys /testmem:off

[COMMON]
files=10
buffers=10
dos=high,umb
stacks=9,256
devicehigh=ramdrive.sys /E 2048
lastdrive=z
I didn't see the attachment , sorry.
This site suggests there might be some DOS drivers out there but at 8 or so pages i wouldn't venture as guess which one is correct.
DLoad and install Everest Home which will tell you exactly which sound CHIP you have in that machine and post the info here..

patio. 8-)I am pretty much of a novice about tech things but I did download & install Everest Home and I'm not sure what information I was supposed to get. I did find, under devices, this information about the audio device.

If this is not it perhaps you could tell me where in the program to obtain it.

ESS TECHNOLOGY Allegro-1.COMM AudioDrive

Device Properties
Device Description ESS Technology Allegro-1.COM AudioDrive
Bus Type PCI
Bus/Device/Function 1/5/0
Device ID 125D-1988
Subsystem ID 0E11-B19D
Device Class 0401(Audio Device)
Revision 12
Fast Back-to-Back Transactions Supported/DisabledIs there a model number for that card? 1868, etc?

If not, I do not feel you will find joy. Well I'm not sure. There is a Hardware ID that is:

PCI\VEN_125D&DEV_1988SUBSYS_B19D0E11&REV_12,PCI\VEN_125D...

If that is not it then I guess there is no joy in Mudville.
Type thos #'s into Google and hit Enter and see what happens...
BTW the autoexec and config that are being loaded are from a bootdisk.
The optimum way for you to run those DOS games would be to CUSTOMISE your own according to your equipment.

More info will be needed for that.

patio. 8-)