DOS ain't dead

AUTOEXEC.BAT: Must I reboot to run it? (Users)

posted by j_hoff, 31.12.2012, 20:05

> Would I be risking messing up my system if I were to make a minor change in
> the AUTOEXEC.BAT file, and then just run it from a DOS prompt under
> DOSSHELL?

The general answer is: "YES"

_BUT_

To get the full story you would have to look into the details.

> Or, could I even just run the SET command from the DOS prompt?

In that special case it would most probably work and it even is the preferred way to do it.

If you just enter the command "SET" at the command prompt (without any arguments) you get the list of currently defined environment variables. In this list you should also find your "DIRCMD=/o/a/p".

Now just enter "SET DIRCMD=/o/a" (without the "/p") and then enter "SET" again. You should see your list of environment variables but now with modified value for "DIRCMD". It will stay that way until you change it again or reboot the computer.

If the manual change yields the result you expected, you should duplicate the change in AUTOEXEC.BAT, in order to make it permanent. If it turns out to be not what you want, don't change AUTOEXEC.BAT, reboot and everything will be as it was before.

Complete thread:

• AUTOEXEC.BAT: Must I reboot to run it? - CluelessInSeattl, 31.12.2012, 16:00 (Users)
  • AUTOEXEC.BAT: Must I reboot to run it? - Laaca, 31.12.2012, 17:25
    • AUTOEXEC.BAT: Must I reboot to run it? - CluelessInSeattl, 31.12.2012, 18:22
      • AUTOEXEC.BAT: Must I reboot to run it? - Rugxulo, 03.01.2013, 10:49
  • AUTOEXEC.BAT: Must I reboot to run it? - j_hoff, 31.12.2012, 20:05
    • AUTOEXEC.BAT: Must I reboot to run it? - CluelessInSeattl, 03.01.2013, 17:18