Needed DOS expert

[COLN]

Since we receive nothing but old unwanted pc's as donations, I thought I had seen just about everything. One of the latest though is perplexing. Everything seems fine, boots to windows, etc. (does have a sound problem which I have queried about in a different discussion) However if I go to shut down, restart in DOS, I get the weirdest scrolling screen. Nothing on it makes sense. All symbols, letters, numbers, lines which are incomprehensible. If you try to type in anything, the letters you type don't match what appears on the screen. To get out, I have to shut down the pc. Will this problem go away if I format the drive? If I format the drive, should I install DOS 6.22 first and then WIN95? The system is a generic 133mhz pc with only 32mb RAM.

[Sterling_Aug]

Yes it should go away if you format (assuming that it is a program running).

I would suggest you look into installing Linux as an alternative to Win95.

[itismike]

I'm no DOS expert, but it sounds to me like your command.com or some other system file is corrupt. Maybe it was altered by a virus or a curious user. ( Back in the day I edited my command.com and changed the messages I would see. I'd change "Bad command or file name" to "stop typing garbage" or something like that (as long as the number of characters were the same [they're not in my example!])

You may be able to restore the corrupted file by booting to the same version of DOS from a floppy and transferring the system files over to the C: drive. I think the command is "sys c:".

Yes, a format will resolve this situation because it'll be starting from a blank slate. It sounds like you have a good understanding of how to reinstall WIN95, so go with that.
-Mike

[AllGamer]

i agree with Sterling_Aug re LINUX :D FREE

suggestion MANDRAKE 9.0

or some older LINUX if they are 286/386 machiens


AS PER THE WEIRD REBOOT

you'll see that if they LOADED Windows via a Batch File so the ENTIRE thing is Encapsulated

that's why when you "REBOOT" you are just EXITING the .bat file

:t

[COLN]

Thanks for the info. I'm always curious as to the why of things. These old pc's remind me of some of our teens. You can never tell what kind of life they had had before they get dumped off at our door.

[itismike]

Coln, you seem like a nice guy. I'd be interested in working in a program like that but I'm in school now and working a lot to fund it, but it would be neat to help out on the side. (Also since my current job has little to do with my career, it would be a step in the right direction.) How do you suggest looking into organizations like that in my area?

Thanks,

-Mike

[COLN]

Start with organizations already working in your community. After school mentoring programs, organizations or churches offering assistance to homeless families, or check out your local volunteer advocacy group if available in your area. Boys and girls clubs are always in need of volunteers too. We work with teens and some younger children of homeless families or referrals that need mentoring. Good luck, one caveat you have to accept youngsters without being judgemental. And there are times when I'd love to be just that! :)

[Beeblequix]

These old pc's remind me of some of our teens. You can never tell what kind of life they had had before they get dumped off at our door.

Thing about the PC's, though, is that you can just go ahead and reformat. Doesn't quite work that way with kids. Yet.

Hmmmm.....(beeblequix has yet another evil thought)

ß

[itismike]

It never will work that way with kids, Beeb.

-Mike