joshua@fluke.tc.fluke.com (John) (01/04/91)
I have heard of a utility that allows selection of various configurations
of a system via different AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS. It will select the
correct files and reboot for you automatically depending on choices.
Does anyone know of such a creature? Do you know where to get it?
Thanx,
jb
*******
joshua@tc-fluke.COM
John LaRue
John Fluke Mfg. Co
PO Box C9090 (m/s 116a)
Everett WA 98206
(206) 356-5753
--
John LaRue John Fluke Mfg. Co, Inc. (206) 356-5753
joshua@tc.fluke.COM {uw-beaver,microsoft,sun}!fluke!joshuajohnh@eecs.cs.pdx.edu (John Harris) (01/04/91)
In article <1991Jan3.173437.8108@tc.fluke.COM> joshua@fluke.tc.fluke.com (John) writes: > >I have heard of a utility that allows selection of various configurations >of a system via different AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS. It will select the >correct files and reboot for you automatically depending on choices. >Does anyone know of such a creature? Do you know where to get it? > One I tried was called "BOOT.COM" and was available at SIMTEL. It was loaded in config.sys then paused for user input as to how to boot up. Depending on the choice, you could have different routines in both config.sys and autoexec.bat. I used it for a while and it worked ok for me, but for some unknown reason I stopped using it. If going to SIMTEL is not in your bag of tricks, perhaps I can dig it up. John.
mitchell (Bill Mitchell) (01/04/91)
In article <1991Jan3.173437.8108@tc.fluke.COM> joshua@fluke.tc.fluke.com (John) writes: > >I have heard of a utility that allows selection of various configurations >of a system via different AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS. It will select the >correct files and reboot for you automatically depending on choices. >Does anyone know of such a creature? Do you know where to get it? > Here is what I use: ---------- \batch\boot.bat ---------- @echo off :start if "_%1" == "_" goto sayit if not exist \boot\%1\autoexec.bat goto error if not exist \boot\%1\config.sys goto error copy \boot\%1\autoexec.bat \ >nul copy \boot\%1\config.sys \ >nul if "_%2" == "_next" goto done echo last boot was %1 >\boot\lastboot.txt reboot echo ERROR - reboot failed goto done :sayit type \boot\lastboot.txt goto done :error echo %0 %1: ERROR goto done :done ------------- debug script reboot.dbg to create \bin\reboot.com ----------- a 100 MOV SI,0080 ;point at command tail MOV CX,[SI] ;get the length XOR CH,CH ;check if it was zero JCXZ 0115 ;if so, jmp INC SI ;else get first char of arg 1 INC SI MOV AL,[SI] ;into al CMP AL,43 ;was is "C"? JZ 011A ;if so, jmp CMP AL,63 ;was it "c"? JZ 011A ;if so, jmp MOV BX,1234 ;set bx to magic number 1234 hex JMP 011F ;and jmp MOV BX,7F7F ;else set bx to non-magic number MOV AX,0040 MOV DS,AX MOV [0072],BX ;store bx in 0040:0072 JMP FFFF:0000 ;and reboot n reboot.com r bx 0 r cx 2b w cs:100 q ------------ that's all --------------- First, say "reboot <reboot.dbg". Then create a subdirectory \boot Then create \boot\xxx where \xxx is each configuration Then put appropriate autoexec.bat and config.sys files in each \boot\xxx Then type "boot xxx" to boot configuration xxx immediately Or type "reboot xxx next" to boot configuration xxx at the next boot Or type "boot" to find out what configuration you booted last. -- mitchell@mdi.com (Bill Mitchell)
powersd@boulder.Colorado.EDU (POWERS DENISON C) (01/04/91)
The best program I've seen to manage multiple autoexec.bat and config.sys files is called reset.com (the package is called RESET12.ZIP). You keep a directory called BOOT that contains text files for each alternate boot configuration. To use them, you type "reset <name>," where "name" is a named pair of autoexec and config files. I keep about 10 different ones, and change them as needed. The actual .com file is only 1560 bytes, and the text files take up very little room. A great utility! I've seen it at U. Washington archives. ================================================================================ || Denny Powers || "I'm gon' get deep down in this connection || || U. of Colorado, Boulder || keep on tanglin' with your wires ||
gt2341c@prism.gatech.EDU (Webb Roberts) (01/04/91)
In article <1991Jan3.173437.8108@tc.fluke.COM> joshua@fluke.tc.fluke.com (John) writes: > >I have heard of a utility that allows selection of various configurations >of a system via different AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS. It will select the >correct files and reboot for you automatically depending on choices. >Does anyone know of such a creature? Do you know where to get it? I suppose you could use someone else's executable to do that, but I prefer to do it myself... This is a batch file that I use to control my autoexec.bat's and config.sys's. It uses bmenu54.zip, available from simtel20 and wuarchive, but I suppose that you could use anything similar. I keep all of my autoexec.bat's and config.sys's uniquely named in c:\dat\cnf\, and just use this program (from anywhere) to swap them. I suppose you could also use an external utility to reboot the system after the batch file was finished (but I prefer to do that myself). @echo off bmenu 5 5 -7 7 15 "System to install" 4Dos Dos "Waffle local" "Waffle BBS" DESQview "Waffle DESQview" if errorlevel 6 goto wafdv if errorlevel 5 goto dv [etc...etc...] if errorlevel 1 goto 4dos goto end :wafdv copy c:\dat\cnf\wafdv.bat c:\autoexec.bat copy c:\dat\cnf\wafdv.sys c:\config.sys goto end :dv copy c:\dat\cnf\dv.bat c:\autoexec.bat copy c:\dat\cnf\dv.sys c:\config.sys goto end [etc...etc...] :4dos copy c:\dat\cnf\4dos.bat c:\autoexec.bat copy c:\dat\cnf\4dos.sys c:\config.sys goto end :end -- Good evening, and welcome to the Arthur Ludlow Memorial Baths, Newport, for this year's finals of the All-England Summarize Proust Competitition. Webb Roberts--gt2341c@prism.gatech.edu, webb@dali.gatech.edu
ts@uwasa.fi (Timo Salmi) (01/04/91)
In article <1991Jan3.173437.8108@tc.fluke.COM> joshua@fluke.tc.fluke.com (John) writes: > >I have heard of a utility that allows selection of various configurations >of a system via different AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS. It will select the >correct files and reboot for you automatically depending on choices. >Does anyone know of such a creature? Do you know where to get it? : Several netters have already given useful information on this. Let me add one thought, which only applies to autoexec.bat, but not config.sys. You can direct your choices in the autoexec.bat by using a batch enhancer which allows branching. It is most often called ASK, and there are practically a countless number of them available (mine in included in /pc/ts/tsbat23.arc). Coupled with e.g. a suitable ramdisk facility (such that is not in config.sys) you can choose the size of ramdisk at boot time. And many other similar applications could be found. Note, however, that the config.sys configuration is the more relevant in this question, and the information I put forward here is only marginal. ................................................................... Prof. Timo Salmi (Moderating at anon. ftp site 128.214.12.3) School of Business Studies, University of Vaasa, SF-65101, Finland Internet: ts@chyde.uwasa.fi Funet: gado::salmi Bitnet: salmi@finfun
schwalbe@pinocchio.Encore.COM (Jim Schwalbe) (01/05/91)
>In article <1991Jan3.173437.8108@tc.fluke.COM> joshua@fluke.tc.fluke.com (John) writes: >> >>I have heard of a utility that allows selection of various configurations >>of a system via different AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS. > In article <1991Jan4.152751.16630@uwasa.fi> ts@uwasa.fi (Timo Salmi) replies: >... You can direct your choices in the autoexec.bat by >using a batch enhancer which allows branching. It is most often >called ASK, and there are practically a countless number of them >... >Note, however, that the config.sys configuration is the more >relevant in this question, and the information I put forward here is >only marginal. > There is a utility which was published in the November ??, 1989 issue of PC Magazine about a utility called CONFIG.CTL which gives you control over what gets loaded at boot time in config.sys. I pulled it off the PC MagNet the other day and I like it. You may be able to find it on Simtel 20. .---------------------------------------------------------------------------. : Jim Schwalbe .----------------. "Half of what I say is : : Hardware Research Group .--+-------------. | meaningless; but I say it : : Encore Computer Corp. | | E N C O R E | | so that the other half may : : Mail: | `-------------+--' reach you." : : schwalbe@encore.com `----------------' - Kahil Gibran : `---------------------------------------------------------------------------'
kgowen@cie.uoregon.edu (Kevin Gowen) (01/06/91)
I have, on my PC at home, a program I downloaded from a local board called AUTOCON.ZIP which purports to be able to shuffle up to 60 or 80 pairs of CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files for those who want to be able to run their PCs in more than one environment setting easily. You can e-mail me if interested, and if there is enough response, I will upload it to the /pub/MSDOS_UPLOADS directory of the wuarchive.wustl.edu anonymous ftp site. Note: I have yet to use this program, so I do not know if what it's documentation says about it is accurate. All I know is that all the files in the AUTOCON archive are free of all the virii that McAfee's SCANV72 can find. -kevin kgowen@cie.uoregon.edu
rreiner@yunexus.YorkU.CA (Richard Reiner) (01/06/91)
schwalbe@pinocchio.Encore.COM (Jim Schwalbe) writes: >>In article <1991Jan3.173437.8108@tc.fluke.COM> joshua@fluke.tc.fluke.com (John) writes: >>> >>>I have heard of a utility that allows selection of various configurations >>>of a system via different AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS. >> A compiled program is really overkill for this task. I have a batchfile which does the job quickly and conveniently, with no practical limit on the number of different configurations it can manage (the real limit is something like 256^3). The only external program it uses is a little 100-byte number which reboots the machine. Copies on request. --richard
ce1zzes@prism.gatech.EDU (Eric Sheppard) (01/06/91)
>In article <1991Jan3.173437.8108@tc.fluke.COM> joshua@fluke.tc.fluke.com (John) writes: >> >>I have heard of a utility that allows selection of various configurations >>of a system via different AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS. > In article <1991Jan4.152751.16630@uwasa.fi> ts@uwasa.fi (Timo Salmi) replies: >... You can direct your choices in the autoexec.bat by >using a batch enhancer which allows branching. It is most often >called ASK, and there are practically a countless number of them >... >Note, however, that the config.sys configuration is the more >relevant in this question, and the information I put forward here is >only marginal. > > I'm experimenting with BOOT.SYS, a program written in 1989 by Hans Salvisberg. (It's in the SIMTEL archives. PD1:<MSDOS.SYSUTL>BOOT11.ARC) So far, it appears to be the precise utility I've been looking for: a program that can start the computer from any of several different versions of CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT, without having to reboot the computer in the modified setup. I didn't like the idea of a bunch of different CONFIG and AUTOEXEC files cluttering up my root directory or some sub-directory, since they could be easily lost, discarded, or outdated. The different configurations are selected from a menu, which can also contain nested menus. This program does not modify either the CONFIG or AUTOEXEC files, but you do have to separate the setups within each file, as menu selections. Turns the files into programs, actually. I like it. Eric -- Eric Sheppard Georgia Tech | "Of course the US Constitution isn't Atlanta, GA | perfect; but it's a lot better than what ARPA: ce1zzes@prism.gatech.edu | we have now." -Unknown uucp: ...!{allegra,amd,hplabs,seismo,ut-ngp}!gatech!prism!ce1zzes
valley@uchicago (Doug Dougherty) (01/07/91)
schwalbe@pinocchio.Encore.COM (Jim Schwalbe) writes: >There is a utility which was published in the November ??, 1989 issue of PC >Magazine about a utility called CONFIG.CTL which gives you control over what >gets loaded at boot time in config.sys. I pulled it off the PC MagNet the >other day and I like it. You may be able to find it on Simtel 20. I'd be very interested in seeing it (CONFIG.CTL) Could you either post it here or give a specific pointer to where it can be found? Thanks.
erick@sunee.waterloo.edu (Erick Engelke) (01/07/91)
In article <1991Jan3.173437.8108@tc.fluke.COM> joshua@fluke.tc.fluke.com (John) writes: > >I have heard of a utility that allows selection of various configurations >of a system via different AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS. It will select the >correct files and reboot for you automatically depending on choices. >Does anyone know of such a creature? Do you know where to get it? > One possibility is the DRVINST device driver installation kit which was recently published over CBIP. It lets you install things like graphic drivers and scanner drivers, etc. from the dos prompt without rebooting. The latest version is pub/drvins11.zoo on [129.97.128.196]. Erick -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Erick Engelke Watstar Computer Network Watstar Network Guy University of Waterloo Erick@Development.Watstar.UWaterloo.ca (519) 885-1211 Ext. 2965
ts@uwasa.fi (Timo Salmi) (01/08/91)
In article <1991Jan3.173437.8108@tc.fluke.COM> joshua@fluke.tc.fluke.com (John) writes: > >I have heard of a utility that allows selection of various configurations >of a system via different AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS. It will select the >correct files and reboot for you automatically depending on choices. >Does anyone know of such a creature? Do you know where to get it? : Here is some further information: autocon.zip =========== A U T O C O N version 1.0 December 6, 1989 by Larry Weaver AUTOCON is a program that will allow you to easily and quickly change your AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files so that your system will boot-up with a different configuration. boot11.zip ========== BOOT.SYS - Version 1.01 Choose your MS-DOS system configuration with boot-up menus Written by Hans Salvisberg vol7n20.zip =========== BAT_CASE BAT BIGGER PAS CONFIG ASM CONFIG BAS CONFIG CTL CONFIG DOC CURSOR PAS ENV720 ZIP GETKEY COM MEMSIZE PAS PP720 ZIP VIDEODEM PAS CONFIG.CTL Device Driver Michael J. Mefford 1988 No. 20 (Utilities) Purpose: A device driver that lets you modifiy your CONFIG.SYS file while the system is booting up. vol9n14.zip =========== BAR WPM BAT2EXEC ZIP CLICK ASM CLICK COM CONVERT WQ1 RECONFIG BAT SETCOLUM WK1 WARMBOOT COM WC C WC EXE ZIPNGO BAT ECHO Name: RECONFIG.BAT Author: Kerry L. Nye ECHO * ECHO Syntax: RECONFIG [filespec] [?] [/h] ECHO * ECHO This batch file will reconfigure CONFIG.SYS to the ECHO configuration specified in "filespec". It copies a ................................................................... Prof. Timo Salmi (Moderating at anon. ftp site 128.214.12.3) School of Business Studies, University of Vaasa, SF-65101, Finland Internet: ts@chyde.uwasa.fi Funet: gado::salmi Bitnet: salmi@finfun
hartnegg@sun1.ruf.uni-freiburg.de (Klaus Hartnegg) (01/09/91)
rreiner@yunexus.YorkU.CA (Richard Reiner) writes: >schwalbe@pinocchio.Encore.COM (Jim Schwalbe) writes: >>>In article <1991Jan3.173437.8108@tc.fluke.COM> joshua@fluke.tc.fluke.com (John) writes: >>>>I have heard of a utility that allows selection of various configurations >>>>of a system via different AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS. >A compiled program is really overkill for this task. I have a >batchfile which does the job quickly and conveniently, with no >practical limit on the number of different configurations it can >manage (the real limit is something like 256^3). Do you find it very practical to have 256^3 different configuration files? When I want to switch ram-disk, disk cache, mouse driver, two different ansi-drivers and some other stuff on and off independently I need to have 2^8 = 256 different files. When I want to change a little bit in all of them this takes me at least an hour. My program needs only one CONFIG.SYS and one AUTOEXEC.BAT. It works by defining switches that can be set on and off in a little menu. It then writes your CONFIG.SYS that corresponds to your switch settings and tells them to AUTOEXEC too. If someone is interested in this program I can mail it as xxencoded zip. I plan to send it to simtel if there is some interest. >The only external >program it uses is a little 100-byte number which reboots the machine. This can be done with 5 bytes. >Copies on request. Copies on request but please note: it's xxencode, not uuencode! -- --------------------------------------------------------------- Klaus Hartnegg, Kleist-Str. 7, D-7835 Teningen, Germany Bitnet : HAKL@DFRRUF1, Internet : HAKL@ibm.ruf.uni-freiburg.de X.400 : G=klaus;S=hartnegg;OU=ibm;OU=ruf;P=uni-freiburg;A=dbp;C=de
schwalbe@pinocchio.Encore.COM (Jim Schwalbe) (01/10/91)
In article <valley.663197539@gsbsun> valley@uchicago (Doug Dougherty) writes: >schwalbe@pinocchio.Encore.COM (I) wrote: > >>There is a utility which was published in the November ??, 1989 issue of PC >>Magazine about a utility called CONFIG.CTL which gives you control over what >>gets loaded at boot time in config.sys. I pulled it off the PC MagNet the >>other day and I like it. You may be able to find it on Simtel 20. > >I'd be very interested in seeing it (CONFIG.CTL) Could you either post >it here or give a specific pointer to where it can be found? Thanks. The front pages of any PC Magazine explain how to get on the PC MagNet. Once on, just go to the Download menu and when it asks for a file name, just type in CONFIG.CTL. It takes less than 1 minute to download it. Also, it should be on SIMTEL 20 under <MSDOS2.PCMAG>. Try VOL7N20.ARC. .---------------------------------------------------------------------------. : Jim Schwalbe .----------------. "Half of what I say is : : Hardware Research Group .--+-------------. | meaningless; but I say it : : Encore Computer Corp. | | E N C O R E | | so that the other half may : : Mail: | `-------------+--' reach you." : : schwalbe@encore.com `----------------' - Kahil Gibran : `---------------------------------------------------------------------------'