ARCHIVED: DOS configuration commands for CONFIG.SYS files

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You can use the following commands as entries in a CONFIG.SYS file for DOS version 5.0. For DOS 6.0 and higher, to see help on all DOS commands and on CONFIG.SYS commands, enter at the DOS prompt:

  help

Note: When changing the contents of your CONFIG.SYS file, be sure to use a text editor or a word processor in text mode.

break: Specifies the status of checking for Ctrl-c and Ctrl-Break.
buffers: Sets the amount of memory DOS uses for storing information transferred to and from a disk.
country: Specifies which country language convention to use.
device: Loads a device driver into memory.
devicehigh: Loads a device driver into upper memory.
dos: Specifies the area of memory where DOS will reside, and whether to use upper memory.
drivparm: Sets the characteristics of a disk drive.
fcbs: Sets the number of file control blocks that DOS can open concurrently.
files: Specifies the number of files DOS may have open at the same time.
install: Runs a resident (TSR) program while DOS reads CONFIG.SYS.
lastdrive: Sets the letter of valid drives.
rem: Marks a piece of descriptive text (comment).
shell: Changes the operation of the COMMAND.COM interpreter.
stacks: Sets the amount of memory DOS reserves for processing hardware interrupts.
switches: Specifies the use of conventional keyboard format despite presence of an enhanced keyboard.