Computer Hangs When You Try to Restart in MS-DOS Mode

When you try to restart your computer in MS-DOS mode, your computer may stop responding (hang).

This issue can occur if there is a damaged or incompatible real-mode driver loading from the Dosstart.bat file.

To resolve this issue, use either of the following methods:

Method 1

Disable the damaged or incompatible real-mode driver line in the Dosstart.bat file by placing the word "rem" (without quotation marks) at the beginning of the line. To determine which line is the correct line to disable:

WARNING: If you disable a terminate and stay resident (TSR) program in the Dosstart.bat file, it is not available in MS-DOS mode. The device for which the TSR is loaded may not work in MS-DOS mode.

1. Use a text editor (such as Notepad) to open the Dosstart.bat file in the Windows folder.
2. Place the word "rem" (without quotation marks) at the beginning of all of the lines in this file, click Save on the File menu, and then restart your computer in MS-DOS mode. If the issue still occurs, a damaged or incompatible real-mode driver loading from the Dosstart.bat file is not the cause, and you should continue troubleshooting this issue. If the issue does not occur, one of the entries you disabled in the Dosstart.bat file is the cause of the issue, and you should continue to step 3.
3. Use a text editor (such as Notepad) to open the Dosstart.bat file in the Windows folder. Enable one of the lines you disabled with the remark statement (rem) by removing the word "rem" from the line, saving the file, and then restarting your computer in MS-DOS mode. If the issue is resolved, the line you enabled is the damaged or incompatible real-mode driver. If the issue is not resolved, repeat this process of enabling a line, saving the file, and testing, except enable the next line that is disabled. Repeat this process until you have tested all the lines in the Dosstart.bat file or have identified the damaged or incompatible real-mode driver line. When you identify the problem line, leave the line disabled.

Method 2

Configure your computer to start to a command prompt when you choose to restart in MS-DOS mode:

1. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files or Folders.
2. In the Named box, type *.pif, and then press ENTER.
3. Right-click the Exit to DOS.pif file, and then click Properties.
4. Click the Program tab, and then click the Advanced tab.
5. Click to select the Specify a new MS-DOS configuration check box, and then click OK.

For more information about Dosstart.bat entries, please see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article: