BleepingComputer.com: Invalid Setting In Msdos.sys File In Windows Me General

After following the directions for:
MS Knowledge Base Article ID 258741:

1.) Modify the WinBootDir entry in the Msdos.sys file to point to the
correct location of the Windows folder.

The reboot came back with the following:
Invalid setting in MSDOS.SYS file
WINBOOTDIR=C:\WINDOWSWINBOOTDIR=C:\WINDOWS
Type the name of the Command Interpreter (e.g., C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND.COM)

What have I done wrong and/or misinterpreted? Thanks again in advance!
--
~Dell

At the command prompt while in DOS type the following lines and press
<Enter> after each line:

attrib -s -h -r c:\msdos.sys
edit c:\msdos.sys

***Note the spaces between -s -h -r c:

If you get "Bad command or filename" you typed it wrong, try again.

Assuming that your Windows is installed on C: and that it was installed
in the default directory the WinBootDir entry should read:

WinBootDir=C:\WINDOWS

*** Note - No space in the WinBootDir line.

To exit and save the file press the <Alt> key and use the keyboard
arrows or letter shortcuts to perform menu actions.

John

Dell wrote:
> Noel:
>
> I did manage to make the boot disk for ME on my laptop to boot to DOS. I am
> trying my best to follow your instructions.
>
> I've confirmed all of the resolution steps to thiis point except item 1.) of
> Article ID 258741:
>
> 1.) Modify the WinBootDir entry in the Msdos.sys file to point to the
> correct location of the Windows folder.
>
> I do not understand how to perform the above from DOS. Can you help?
>
At the command prompt while in DOS type the following lines and press
<Enter> after each line:

attrib -s -h -r c:\msdos.sys
edit c:\msdos.sys

***Note the spaces between -s -h -r c:

If you get "Bad command or filename" you typed it wrong, try again.

Assuming that your Windows is installed on C: and that it was installed
in the default directory the WinBootDir entry should read:

WinBootDir=C:\WINDOWS

*** Note - No space in the WinBootDir line.

To exit and save the file press the <Alt> key and use the keyboard
arrows or letter shortcuts to perform menu actions.

John

Dell wrote:
> Noel:
>
> I did manage to make the boot disk for ME on my laptop to boot to DOS. I am
> trying my best to follow your instructions.
>
> I've confirmed all of the resolution steps to thiis point except item 1.) of
> Article ID 258741:
>
> 1.) Modify the WinBootDir entry in the Msdos.sys file to point to the
> correct location of the Windows folder.
>
> I do not understand how to perform the above from DOS. Can you help?
>

From DOS, or a command line window, type "EDIT C:\MSDOS.SYS", make the pertinent changes, save the file, exit the editor and reboot. Be careful not to remove or change anything else in the file.

If you keep getting the "Bad command or filename" error message, probably the editor is not present or variables are not set. Change to C:\Windows\Command folder and try again.

This post has been edited by Cyclica: 22 March 2006 - 07:05 PM

Cyclica:
There was nothing else in the EDITOR file but the following two (2) entries:
WinBootDir=C:\WINDOWS
WinBootDir=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM

Is this normal? I added these I believe from the instructions of a Microsoft MVP tech. Thanks in advance for your help attempt!

Actually, the MSDOS.SYS file must be 1024Kb long at least for the system to work correctly. That's why "fill" characters are icluded in it, something like this:

[Paths]
WinDir=C:\WINDOWS
WinBootDir=C:\WINDOWS
HostWinBootDrv=C
UninstallDir=C:\

[Options]
BootMulti=1
BootGUI=1
AutoScan=1
WinVer=4.90.3000
;
;The following lines are required for compatibility with other programs.
;Do not remove them (MSDOS.SYS needs to be >1024 bytes).
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxa
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxb
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxc
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxd
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxe
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxf
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxg
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxh
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxi
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxj
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxk
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxl
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxm
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxn
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxo
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxp
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxq
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxr
;xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxs

This post has been edited by Cyclica: 25 March 2006 - 05:02 PM