Path: utzoo!censor!geac!jtsv16!uunet!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!hplabs!hp-sdd!megatek!eta!hollen
From: hollen@eta.megatek.uucp (Dion Hollenbeck)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: What files MUST be in the root directory?
Message-ID: <678@megatek.UUCP>
Date: 9 Aug 89 14:56:24 GMT
References: <1588@unccvax.UUCP>
Distribution: usa
Lines: 34

From article <1588@unccvax.UUCP>, by cs75jmc@unccvax.UUCP (John Covington WN4BBJ):
> In article <189@nisca.ircc.ohio-state.edu>, pjd@hpuxa.ircc.ohio-state.edu (Peter J. Dotzauer) writes:
>> There seems to be some confusion about what files MUST be in the root
>> directory. For instance, the specifications for many drivers state that
>> one must put a line 'device=xyz.sys ' into config.sys, and place
>>....
> ...
> However, I would warn you that if your config.sys file gets clobbered,
> you won't be able to boot your machine.  You can boot without a
> config.sys but you can't boot without command.com.  You'll have to
> get out the floppy version of DOS and boot from that so you can fix
> config.sys.
> 


John has a very valid point which I would make a further 
recommendation to.  Each and every time your re-configure your
system, create a boot floppy with your new CONFIG.SYS, AUTOEXEC.BAT,
and all the device drivers you use to access the hardware in
your system.  That way, at any time you have problems with your
hard disk booting, you have a bootable floppy which understands
the current configuration of your system and will duplicate
your hardware conditions as if booted from the hard disk.  Don't
forget to leave your path statement IN just as it is on your
hard disk.  After all, the majority of your utilities will be on
your hard disk and accessed via the path statement.  It is also
very handy to have a very simple text editor on this boot disk
so you can edit any files necessary in the process of trying to
get your system going.  I would never be without my bootable
floppy; it has saved my bacon numerous times.
	Dion Hollenbeck             (619) 455-5590 x2814
	Megatek Corporation, 9645 Scranton Road, San Diego, CA  92121

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