Scribd
Upload
51 views1 page

What Is CONFIG - SYS?: PC Computer Operating System

CONFIG.SYS is a file read by the MS-DOS operating system at startup that contains instructions to load device drivers and customize system configuration. It tells the operating system how many files and buffers to allocate and loads drivers for peripherals like memory and mice. Editing CONFIG.SYS allows customizing how the system works by changing settings and drivers.

Uploaded by

1419
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
51 views1 page

What Is CONFIG - SYS?: PC Computer Operating System

CONFIG.SYS is a file read by the MS-DOS operating system at startup that contains instructions to load device drivers and customize system configuration. It tells the operating system how many files and buffers to allocate and loads drivers for peripherals like memory and mice. Editing CONFIG.SYS allows customizing how the system works by changing settings and drivers.

Uploaded by

1419
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

What is CONFIG.SYS?

BY DINESH THAKUR

If you have a PC you probably have a file named CONFIG.SYS on the disk you use to start, or
boot, the computer. A file that is automatically read at start up by the MS-DOS operating system
used to load the DEVICE DRIVERS required by the various peripherals connected to the
computer, and to set the correct configuration parameters for them. This file contains a variety
of instructions used to customize the way your system works. Each time you start or restart the
machine, the CONFIG.SYS file is read by the operating system (DOS or OS/2), which configures
itself according to the instructions in the file. In DOS the typical CONFIG.SYS file starts with
commands that tell the operating system how many files can be in use at any one time, and
how many buffers to create, like this: FILES=30 BUFFERS=20

The file may also have commands that load into memory one or more device drivers, which are
little pieces of software that allow the system to communicate with and control some device
like memory or a mouse. For example:

DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM. SYS DEVICE =C\MOUSE\MOUSE. SYS

You can change the contents of the CONFIG.SYS with almost any word processor or text editor,
since the file is just a text file. You do have to make sure to save your work as a plain ASCII file
without any word processor- type formatting.
You don't absolutely need a CONFIG.SYS file to use your computer, because DOS makes
assumptions about how to set things up if you don't tell it explicitly what to do. However, certain
programs won't run unless the correct settings are specified in CONFIG.SYS.

You might also like