I give up. I've had this message "vanish" three times while in the "preview" mode. I hope I have not inadvertantly submitted the same post three times. I'll just click "submit" this time and hope for the best. Sorry if this has caused any inconvenience.
I believe the key elements toward solving your DOS problem are going to be found in "config.nt" rather than autoexec.nt. Also, the command
"setver" may be needed. (C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\setver.exe
I'll paste the highlights of the "setver" command first. All this is excerpted from the "help and support files" in XP.
Highlight 1.Examples
To run Myprog.exe, a file that runs with MS-DOS version 3.30, create an entry in the version table (explained below) that enables Myprog.exe to
interpret the MS-DOS subsystem as version 3.30 by typing:
setver myprog.exe 3.30
To delete the Myprog.exe entry from the version table, without otherwise affecting the Myprog.exe file, type:
setver myprog.exe /delete
(further details posted in full text after hightlight 2.)
Highlight 2
Windows XP does not use this command. It is accepted only for compatibility with MS-DOS files.
This tool is not available on Windows XP 64-Bit Edition.
Using the version table Many programs designed to run with a previous version of MS-DOS run
correctly with Windows XP. In some cases, however, a program might not
run correctly unless its name is included in the version table. The
table indicates to the program that it is running with the MS-DOS
version for which it was designed, even though it is running in the
MS-DOS subsystem. By interpreting MS-DOS version 5.0 as the earlier
version, the program should run correctly, however, setver does not
solve the problem if the program is not compatible with Windows XP.
Full Text Pasted Below:
setver c: SetverSets the MS-DOS version number that the MS-DOS
subsystem reports to a program. Used without parameters, setver
displays the current version table.
Syntax
setver [Drive
ath] [FileName n.nn]
setver [Drive
ath] [FileName [/delete [/quiet]]
To display the current version table, use the following syntax:
setver [Drive
ath]
Parameters
[Drive
ath]
Specifies the location of the Setver.exe file.
FileName
Specifies the name of the program file (.exe or .com) that you want to
add to the version table. You cannot use a wildcard (* or ?).
n.nn
Specifies the MS-DOS version (for example, 3.3 or 4.01) that the MS-DOS
subsystem reports to the specified program file.
/delete
Deletes the version table entry for the specified program file. You can
also use /d.
/quiet
Hides the message that is usually displayed when you delete an entry
from the version table.
/?
Displays help at the command prompt.
Remarks
Windows XP does not use this command. It is accepted only for
compatibility with MS-DOS files.
This tool is not available on Windows XP 64-Bit Edition.
Using the version table
Many programs designed to run with a previous version of MS-DOS run
correctly with Windows XP. In some cases, however, a program might not
run correctly unless its name is included in the version table. The
table indicates to the program that it is running with the MS-DOS
version for which it was designed, even though it is running in the
MS-DOS subsystem. By interpreting MS-DOS version 5.0 as the earlier
version, the program should run correctly, however, setver does not
solve the problem if the program is not compatible with Windows XP.
Loading the version table into memory
Before you can use setver, the version table must be loaded into memory
by inserting a device command in your Config.nt file.
Restarting after updating the version table
When you update the version table by adding or deleting entries, you
must start a new command prompt session to reread the version table.
Updating existing entries
If you specify a file name that is already in the version table, the
new entry replaces the existing entry.
Understanding setver exit codes
To process exit codes returned by setver, use the errorlevel parameter
on the if command line in a batch program. For an example of a batch
program that processes exit codes using if, see Related Topics. The
following table lists each exit code and a description.
Exit code Description
0 Setver successfully completed its task.
1 The user specified an invalid command-line option.
2 The user specified an invalid file name.
3 There is insufficient system memory to carry out the command.
4 The user specified an invalid version number format.
5 Setver cannot find the specified entry in the version table.
6 Setver cannot find the Setver.exe file.
7 The user specified an invalid drive.
8 The user specified too many command-line options.
9 Setver detected missing command-line options.
10 Setver detected an error while reading the Setver.exe file.
11 The Setver.exe file is corrupt.
12 The specified Setver.exe file does not support a version table.
13 There is insufficient space in the version table for a new entry.
14 Setver detected an error while writing to the Setver.exe file.
Examples
To run Myprog.exe, a file that runs with MS-DOS version 3.30, create an
entry in the version table that enables Myprog.exe to interpret the
MS-DOS subsystem as version 3.30 by typing:
setver myprog.exe 3.30
To delete the Myprog.exe entry from the version table, without
otherwise affecting the Myprog.exe file, type:
setver myprog.exe /delete
To list the contents of the version table on drive C, type:
setver c:
Formatting legend
Format Meaning
Italic Information that the user must supply
Bold Elements that the user must type exactly as shown
Ellipsis (...) Parameter that can be repeated several times in a
command line
Between brackets ([]) Optional items
Between braces ({}); choices separated by pipe (|). Example: {even|odd}
Set of choices from which the user must choose only one
Courier font Code or program output
