Multiple Configuration Menu Is Not Displayed (91202)

SUMMARY

If the MENUDEFAULT command in your CONFIG.SYS file is incorrectly set, the time-out value defaults to zero. As a result, the startup menu is not displayed when you start your machine.

Common problems with menudefault settings include using the full menu descriptor (menu_text) instead of the menu block name and using non-numeric characters.

To determine if your menu default is incorrectly set, restart your computer and press the F8 function key when the text "Starting MS-DOS..." is displayed. If the time-out is defaulting to zero, the menu is displayed. If the menu is not displayed, another problem exists.

MORE INFORMATION

Do not use more than one word for your block name. If you want to use text to describe your menu options, use a one-word block name followed by the description. For example, consider the following menu items:

   menuitem=dev, Development Configuration
   menuitem=wfwg, Windows for Workgroups
   menuitem=games, Games
   menuitem=files, Files and Buffers Only

   [dev]

   [wfwg]

   [games]

   [files]

For these menu items, the four default menu possibilities are "development," "wfwg," "games," and "files."

When you use the menudefault setting, do not include the descriptor text. For example,

   menudefault=wfwg, 30

If you include the descriptor text, it is interpreted as the time-out setting. Since it is non-numeric text, the menu is not displayed. For example, the following menudefault line is incorrect:

  menudefault=wfwg, Windows for Workgroups, 30

REFERENCES

For help on using a multiple configuration menu, typehelp multiconfig at the MS-DOS command prompt or see chapter 4 of "Microsoft MS-DOS User's Guide" for version 6 and 6.2.

For help on using the MENUDEFAULT command in your CONFIG.SYS file, type help menudefault at the MS-DOS command prompt.